-- Heaven’s Plate --

By John Herlihy

Where does the light go,

When the candle goes out?

Where does the breeze go,

When the wind dies out?

Where does the wood go,

When the fire dies out?

Where does the day go,

When the twilight goes away?

Where does darkness go,

When night can no longer stay?

Where does perfume go,

When scent stops giving itself away?

Where does the silence go,

When the air is full of sound?

Where do the stars go,

When the blue sky is all around?

Where does the rain go,

When the clouds no longer abound?

Where does the fog go,

When the mist no longer appears?

Where does the smoke go,

When the fire disappears?

Where does the laughter go,

When voices no longer give cheers?

They go to a place to lie in wait,

Where they lie patiently in their native state,

Where they live forever and never abate,

On the other side of Heaven’s plate.

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(c) John Herlihy 7 April 2019