Wondering Still
By John Herlihy

I have a few secrets tucked away,
Forgotten until I remember.

Sometimes I feel invisible,
That allows me the invisible to see.

I sweep carefully with a new broom,
Still, there is an elephant in the room.

I forget in my life all kinds of stuff,
Then without warning, I begin to remember.

Much in life has no consequence,
Then why does it hurt so much.

I don’t want to be the center of attention,
On the contrary, I don’t even try.

I very seldom complain,
I prefer to quietly endure the pain.

I always close the bottle cap tight,
I am not sure why; it just seems right.

I don’t know sorrow’s full name,
Nor do I know who is to blame.

I was full of little fears,
But there was no place to hide over the years.

My eyes can produce tears,
But I no longer try to explain them away.

Hope springs from murky ground,
Without even making a sound.

The mind sometimes feels crystal clear,
Why then does confusion always seem so near.

Something in the heart lingers there.
Unwanted, who invited this despair?

The mysteries of life invading at will,
They always leave me wondering still.