Every Selfish Motive (poem) by John Herlihy on AuthorsDen

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John Herlihy

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Every Selfish Motive
by John Herlihy → (All Poetry by John Herlihy)
Saturday, February 17, 2018 Rated "G" by the Author.

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Every Selfish Motive By John Herlihy Every selfish motive Arouses loathing in the soul. Every candle votive Illuminates pieces of the whole. We plant our self interest Firmly around our feet in the ground. Of all the things that we hold the dearest, The roots sturdy and deep, inward-bound. We act in a way for all to see, How the world revolves around me. Our every single desire Becomes the source of our fire. Virtues of integrity and valiance, Have little weight in the balance Me, me, and me the echoing refrain, All the rest we will hold in distain. My master is the lord of myself, The dispenser of all my wealth. Illusion is our greatest glory, Selfishness the author of our story. If every selfish motive Arouses loathing in the soul, Then every candle votive Illuminates pieces of the whole.

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Reviews of "Every Selfish Motive"

Reviewed by Jms Bell

Reviewed on February 21, 2018

THANK GOD FOR THE LIGHT THAT ILLUMINATES THE 'TAINTS' OF THE WHOLE...'FOR ALL HAVE COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD...', THERE IS NONE PERFECT BUT WHEN WE BECOME AWARE OF OUR IMPERFECTIONS WE STRIVE TO DO BETTER. DONE WELL AND ENJOYED. THANKS FOR SHARING. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...JOYCE * HIS INSPIRATIONS

Reviewed by Susanne Leist

Reviewed on February 21, 2018

Selfishness arouses loathing in our souls, but yet we continue to follow it.

Reviewed by Jane Noponen Perinacci

Reviewed on February 19, 2018

Exactly! I've heard that by helping others we are able to feel better about ourselves. There you have it! 'Enjoyed!

Love ya!

Jane

Reviewed by Rebecca McKeehan

Reviewed on February 18, 2018

There are some who contend that even the charities we bestow on others are at some level an exercise in self interest. After all, they insist, doesn't it make us feel good to do good? I believe the ones who give quietly of themselves without fanfare and even in secret are the least selfish. Those who boast enjoy their notoriety more than the good they bestowed. That is a significant difference.

Reviewed by Ronald Hull

Reviewed on February 18, 2018

A wonderful lesson in this poem about the virtue of not gathering or hoarding wealth as some kind of reward for behaving badly throughout a shallow life.

Ron

Reviewed by Odin odin@aflx.com

Reviewed on February 18, 2018

To re-read this piece, allowing the subtext to further enlighten the reader, is a gift you present ever so well. Bravo.

Reviewed by Michael Schafer

Reviewed on February 18, 2018

Much truth in these wise words.

Reviewed by Alexander Goldstein

Reviewed on February 18, 2018

we actually do both, the selfish and unselfish doings, the former are in great many indeed. it's because we think that selfishness is the shorter way to realize ourselves in this unruly world; the time is always short, so we are. to rise above this social (system) condition is a lot of the true men who are today in a few. Cheers, alex

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