BEWARE TRESSPASSING

By John Herlihy

Crossing enemy lines,

We live in alien times,

Our fears come to the fore,

Not knowing what’s in store,

Beware trespassing!

Limits keep us bound,

Honor can be found,

Keeping firm with faith,

The known makes us feel safe,

Beware trespassing!

Ah to shun the permissible,

To suddenly be invisible,

I see what all others do,

A haunting ghost who knew,

Beware trespassing!

To see thru a crack and stare,

Nobody knows you are there,

Anonymity in high style,

Intruding a form of guile,

Beware trespassing!

To listen at half-opened doors,

The jilted lover implores,

Half-listening to invade,

Into their lives to wade,

Beware trespassing!

In giving information for pay,

The traitor gives himself away,

The innocent they waylay,

The deed done they never stay,

Beware trespassing!

A blind eye allows a deaf ear to surpass,

Footsteps echo a visible rhythm,

The dumb speak not their wisdom,

The blind eye hears things in the din,

Beware trespassing!

I stepped into the church out of the cold,

My whispered prayers untold,

My sense of holiness has no grove,

The angels would never approve,

Beware trespassing!

I stepped into the darkened space,

Uncomfortable, feeling out of place.

I felt dread and lost my swagger,

Moonlight intruded to reveal a dagger,

Beware trespassing!