Too Little, Too Much

To have but little feeling can seem too much;

Faint praise surely earned but never comes rushed.

To have too much feeling can seem too little;

If my cup overflows, only then is there acquittal.

We put our best foot forward in all that we do,

Hoping to accomplish whatever good we knew.

Better to be recognized for what we have gained,

Rather than go unnoticed and feeling pained.

In all the vast reaches of Heaven’s rich bower,

Springs forth the bloom of the little naïve flower.

Its simple smile the glories of Heaven may lay waste;

The wind fluffs its petals as it passes by in haste.

Was ever true love given to the lover in vain?

Outwardly freely given but inwardly paid with pain.

Who does not feel the emotions of regret and remorse?

When our love is betrayed, we are left alone of course.

Why should I extend to others an overabundance of concern,

When others take no notice and give nothing back in return?

To extend on a platter all the good will of a person’s heart,

Only to be brushed aside with indifference from the start.

Even our dislike and distain can be too little, too late;

Such feelings may rise to the surface, then never abate.

Too little of our anger may end up being far too much;

We may end up stubbing our little toe and needing a crutch.

Frustration always seems to be too much even when little;

It slowly simmers to a boiling point until reaching critical.

You struggle, you strive, but destiny whittles your stick down.

All of your efforts turned into cut shavings scattered all around.

No matter how little our despair, it always seems much too much;

A kind of worm that burrows down a deep hole, feeling crushed.

Similarly, our little moments of happiness never seem enough;

They take wing with feathers that feels like so much fluff.

Whether too little or too much, our provision drawn from life’s store.

We should count our blessings and not continually ask for more.

In our complaints of too little or too much lies a potential danger;

We may come face to face in the mirror with a perfect stranger.

- - - - -

(c) John Herlihy November 2018