-- Infinity in the Finite --

By John Herlihy

What is a rose,

But a finite number of petals

What is a dandelion,

But a finite number of wisps.

What is a galaxy,

But a finite number of stars.

What is music,

but a finite number of notes.

What is poetry,

but a finite number of words.

What is a masterpiece,

but the finite colors in a rainbow.

What is emotion,

but a finite number of sentiments.

What is evil,

but a finite number of transgressions.

What is hate,

but the last expression of the damned.

What is love,

but the lasting expression of the beloved.

The earth and its turning

has a finite value.

The human spirit and its yearning

has an infinite value.

The ocean of the globe

has a finite value.

The ocean of the heart

has an infinite value.

The human emotions

always walk a two-edged sword.

The human frailties

always give an appearance untoward.

Count not on one hand

what you endeavor to seek.

Count all the blessing

that you have deserved to reap.

The bitterness of hate

leaves behind a lasting after-taste.

The beauty of love

trails rainbows in its wake.

What we think is finite

Can be accumulated in earth’s store.

To see Infinity in the finite,

We will see revelations of so much more.

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(c) John Herlihy 20 October 2018