Nothing, Everything, True (poem) by John Herlihy on AuthorsDen

Nothing, Everything, True
by John Herlihy → (All Poetry by John Herlihy)
Tuesday, July 6, 2021 Rated "G" by the Author.

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-- Nothing, Everything, True -- John Herlihy Nothing I am about to write is true , Yet some things true even when not. Everything I am about to write is true , Some things shine true as a tight knot. Beauty of the butterfly cannot be real, Yet we see it there before our very eyes. Deep into our hearts its splendors steal, Taking us to places we may never realize. The poems I write are not necessarily true , Yet the nuggets of thought express truth. Truth within the verses shines forth as true , Preventing the poet from ever being aloof. About truth, a turtle or snail knows nothing, Yet they nobly bear a home on their back. In living their truth, they do know something, Enjoying instincts that we humans often lack. We tell untrue stories that never occurred, Yet we tell them for their kernel of truth. We see too much with our vision blurred, In seeking truth in them we turn sleuth. The clueless firefly beams its night light Yet it knows not the miracle of its wonder A child feels truth in this miraculous sight As true as their fear at the sound of thunder We believe in things that may be untrue , No one knows the heart of life’s mystery. In believing, we make certain things true , Life’s mystery becomes a thing of beauty. People the world over thought the world flat, A dictum in history once considered to be true . Now we just laugh it off with the tip of a hat, And wink at the Lord God as a myth untrue . We believe the basic goodness of humanity, A truth that could ultimately appear untrue . Truth may fall prey to the forces of profanity, Then it doesn’t matter if the truth is even true . It matters not if our words ring forth as true , There are those in the world who will not listen. They do not listen as they think the words untrue , The night knows not in the darkness stars glisten. So, when I draw thoughts from some deep abyss, And set unique words gently upon the blank page. May the reader listen carefully so as not to miss, Truth through a poet’s sieve set free from its cage. - - - - - - Copyright © John Herlihy Friday 16 April 2021

Reviewed by Rebecca McKeehan

Reviewed on July 11, 2021

I recall the spirit of Obi Wan telling the young Luke that what he had said was true, from a certain point of view. In many, if not all, instances, your truth and mine may bear no resemblance at all.

Rebecca

Reviewed by Jms Bell

Reviewed on July 10, 2021

WHEN A WRITER CREATES A FICTIONAL WORK IT COMES FROM A STIRRING DEEP INSIDE OF THEM THAT WAS FORMED BY A 'TRUTH' THAT THEY EXPERIENCED. THE ELABORATED STORY IS FICTIONAL, OF COURSE, BUT THE INSPIRATION/THE STIRRING IS TRUE. I HAVE FOUND THAT EVERYTHING A WRITER CREATES IS A PART OF THEM...HOWEVER GREAT OR MINUTE IT MAY BE. A THOUGHT PROVOKER, THANKS JOHN. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS

Reviewed by Ronald Hull

Reviewed on July 6, 2021

Like white lies that are often told to soothe a particularly harsh situation, poets often write about life and nature in ways that are not true, but everyone that reads would like to believe like being able to fly over a rainbow and think that stars twinkle when they don't. But the metaphors implied by these little lies are very powerful and moving for the emotion of the reader.

So they are continued to be allowed and sometimes, become part of history, even though they are only a myth.

Ron