-- Second Thoughts –

John Herlihy

Second thoughts always come in second,

But they arrive one by one.

They flow into the mind as though beckoned

Over the horizon as the dawn sun

It is not for nothing that we say: it dawned on me,

A thought as light clear to see.

Some inner witness that whispers to us a word of caution,

Our hard decisions to soften.

We settle down to make ourselves a decision

But we have a second thought

It comes to us on its own with precision

As a reminder always sought

Our second thoughts we should treasure as gold,

They come to us unannounced.

Its precious warning always there to behold,

We welcome them, ready to pounce.

I thank my stars my second thought don’t wait,

They always arrive in style.

I thought I knew what to do, then the bait,

Lingers in the mind a while.

Rest assured, our first thoughts will have their say;

But out second thoughts have us think another way.

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(c) John Herlihy 16 January 2019