-- REMEMBER STILL --

John Herlihy

Upon awakening, children steamroll into the world,

Blowing as pennants into the unleashed wind, unfurled.

Show them a simple truth; they give back their heart,

Tuck a newly found treasure into their mind pried apart.

Feed them, fill them with delight, as they begin to grow;

They look back at me as if they already something know.

As I show them cardinal flowers and bee balm, they hush;

Nod in earnest at a praying mantis in the blueberry bush.

“You will see it change color,” I add, “if it decides to stay”

“They look goofy,” one ventures; another: “but they do pray?”

Of course, they pray, I think to myself, just like children do,

Every movement, breath and sound as true as the sky blue.

The royal barque floats slowly, landing on a dogwood limb;

Now the little children’s hearts are really filled to the brim.

Did you know that joe-pye weeds grow high into low cloud;

They shake their solemn heads at the noble weeds proud.

They see a hummingbird’s nest, touch a box-turtle shell;

One little rascal picks it up to take away for show and tell.

They are their own sunflowers, open faces reaching for sky;

Wind and light protect them from needless questions why.

Childhood is always preserved within as a precious seed;

The person goes forth in the world as a flourishing weed.

Unless they forget to remember, perhaps remember still;

The beauty of the world ever reveals itself and always will.

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(C) John Herlihy 27 February 2019