-- THREE CORDS AND A TRUTH --

John Herlihy

He was a grand old philosopher in his old age;

Many truths had come his way, making him a sage.

His life, neat and tidy, nothing at all out of place;

Wrinkled life lines gave wisdom to his furrowed face.

He took each day now as it came, one day at a time;

As always, some days sounded discord, others rhyme.

Truth to tell, much of his life had disappeared, forgotten;

Some days hard as nails, others felt as Egyptian cotton.

He asked what it all meant, he still didn’t rightly know;

He still believed in God, a Supreme Being who did bestow.

All the happiness, the sorrows, the wonder that came around;

All the raucous noise, all the silence that made no sound.

In the end, it all added up to a narrative that destiny records;

One simple, abiding truth accompanied by three simple cords.

Three cords that are carefully intertwined, not easily broken;

Faith, hope and love woven into a life as a soul awoken.

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(c) John Herlihy 22 February 2019