Collateral Mysteries
By John Herlihy

Take me into the ravishing world
Of collateral mysteries,
As elusive as anything in the Golden Age
Of recorded histories.
Take me into the unknown world
Of the mystical sage,
As invisibly wise as anything unveiled
In the Primordial Age.

We claim to have proven knowledge when we speak
Of empirical evidence,
Although intangible revelations lay hidden to astound
Without established precedence.
Imagine the number of drops that make up the waters
Of vast oceans,
Consider the arcane ingredients that make up the essence
Of alchemical potions.

Unleash the worlds that thrive within the fantasy
Of our imaginations,
Unveil the suns and moons that adorn the night sky
Of our lifetime peregrinations.
Soothe the emotions that afflict our lives
Of grief and sorrows,
Replenish the emptiness of our days waiting
For endless tomorrows.

Collateral mysteries will lead us by the hand
Into future surprises,
The day will greet us with the courage to dare
With its faithful sunrises.
At night, we lay down to sleep with implicit trust
Without undue hastening,
In the morning, we welcome the first breath of dawn
Upon our awakening.

Collateral mysteries may not be so collateral after all:
They strike the heart of existence and hold us in their thrall.