-- Things We Cannot Imagine --

­­John Herlihy

Certain things we cannot imagine,

We must feel them on their own.

Certain things we cannot fathom,

As invisible as gentle wind blown.

The warmth of a tender embrace,

How to explain the depth of heat.

A tender warmth in a smiling face,

The fine line of a mouth so sweet.

Explain color to some alien being,

Who sees all in black and white.

Sunset, dawn, burning sky seeing,

To those who only see the light.

The beauty of the hummingbird,

A blur of wings fluttering in midair.

The hum of the wings intently heard,

Wings of scarlet murmuring prayer.

Explain the lyricism of the flute,

That fills air with melodic sound.

Silence the sole voice of the mute,

As sheer beauty of music abounds.

To capture the essence of taste,

The sweet nectar of honey as gold.

To explain the unexplainable a waste,

As ever impossible the wind to hold.

Try to explain the depths of sorrow,

To a being with no emotion to share.

All the words an effort only on borrow

A burden they will never have to bear.

Even our happiness is a personal thing,

How then to explain what it truly means?

Visions of delight earth’s wonders bring,

Even if the experience is not what it seems.

Now describe the burning lick of the flame,

A flaming sword that singes the nerves.

Not really describable, having no name,

Enduring the flame, we must hold in reserve.

A multitude of things we cannot imagine,

Intimacies we never thought ever to have.

Pathways to knowledge never to fathom,

Having all the powers of a healing salve.

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Copyright © John Herlihy

Friday 18 December 2020