-- As Good as I Give --

John Herlihy

It seems I am only as good as I give;

My burnt offerings drawn slowly thru a sieve.

My effort, my heart, even my soul laid bare,

Carried off by wave and wind as I simply stare.

It all began with the force of good intentions,

In first grade, so happy with honorable mentions.

My wishes poured forth into my friends’ dreams;

To be loved, I must give myself away it seems.

Now, in my old age, there is little left to give,

Meager remains can hardly pass thru my sieve.

The final droplets in a long lifetime of outpouring;

With only little to give, where are they, adoring.

I now know the value of being alone, on my own,

To live with oneself, happy in a future unknown.

One thing I know for sure that I will never give,

The breath of my soul and spirit so long as I live.

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(c) John Herlihy 1 May 2019