-- HEAVEN ALL AROUND US --

John Herlihy

Out on open trail hummin’ the occasional word,

The sky bluer than blue, as I came on a fox turd.

Why hell, it sure did look like fox turd, I do swear,

A moth shucking a cocoon it could no longer bear.

At first totally still, the cocoon gave a little shiver,

Head poked thru with eyes shining in the glimmer.

The body spread out in a set of open-fanned wings;

My heart beat a little faster like a voice that sings.

Why shucks, it seemed as seeing with eyes of God;

As there I were imagining fox turds like an old sod.

Like I was up to my neck in water and sinking fast;

Only to realize I could swim on and continue to last.

We know the walk to God ain’t easy for most of us;

But the glory of God there for the seeing to all of us.

Lord knows we have all seen our share of desolation;

All suffered our share of hard trials and lamentation.

But just to touch the hem in the drapery of His robe,

Lose ourselves for a while as the red sunset glowed.

All the dogwoods a-blossom, acorns soft and tender;

It’s the hem of the robe of glory is what I remember.

Heck, what do you expect to see if you nothing seek;

It ain’t good enough to walk about just feelin’ meek.

When I meet them angels up there in heaven above;

Sittin’ around in the clouds whispering words of love.

I’ll say to them angels, I done seen heaven far below,

As beautiful as anything you cherubs will ever know.

What good was it did you, what was it you did notice’

Did you really see God’s face in the face of the lotus?

Look, we can see God’s heaven all round us, I do tell,

Even if our lives affirm the same could be said of hell.

- - - - - -

(C) John Herlihy 1 March 2019