To Live Life Fully (poem) by John Herlihy on AuthorsDen

To Live Life Fully
by John Herlihy → (All Poetry by John Herlihy)
Monday, May 23, 2022 Rated "G" by the Author.

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-- To Live Life Fully -- John Herlihy I often come across the phrase Telling all of us to live life fully Yet it puts my mind in a daze Indeed, it feels like a bully I understand when people say That we need to know ourselves In life we have dues to pay We cannot pretend to be elves Another bit of wisdom often heard We need to take what comes Like the frivolous chirping of a bird Accountability means adding up sums Then the adage to hang tough Whatever fate offers, see it through Yet some roads we take really rough I’d take another road if I only knew Then, to me, the biggest ever joke Better late than never Waiting for others but a yoke Often the waiting was forever What about the bit of folklore That we only live once So do what you want and more Even if a pound heavier than an ounce Again, back to living life fully I have no idea what it means As a bit of wisdom, it’s plain silly Conjuring images of false scenes To fill every second of every day To what end may time be filled To express myself in whatever way What happens if the milk is spilled To make fine use of every advantage What if these are limited to the lucky few A given life may have meagre vantage Chasing after wherever the wind blew What if I don’t live my life fully What if in many ways I simply fail Frustrations and sorrows arrive unduly Destiny forcing us to live life in a pail I try not to live my life fully A full glass doesn’t mean I am content Inspired by an empty glass to live truly Life lived in a glass emptied and well spent - - - - - - Copyright © John Herlihy Friday 21 January 2022

Reviewed by Jms Bell

Reviewed on June 16, 2022

TO LIVE LIFE FULLY IS TO BE ABLE TO LOOK BACK AND FEEL SATISFIED WITH ONE'S LIFE.THIS TERM IS DEFINED BY ONE'S DEFINITION OF THE WORD ...'FULLY'. I MEAN, WHAT 'FULLY' MEANS TO SOME, IS NOT WHAT IT MEANS TO ANOTHER. SO, AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED...LIVING LIFE FULLY, DIFFERS WITH INDIVIDUALS ALL OVER THE WORLD. PERSONALITIES ALSO HAVE A LARGE PLAY IN THIS BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE ARE NEVER CONTENT. THUS, ALWAYS SEEKING, ALWAYS REACHING TO...LIVE LIFE...FULLY. A GREAT PROVOKER, ENJOYED, MY FRIEND. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS

Reviewed by Rebecca McKeehan

Reviewed on May 24, 2022

I, too, have thought the same about all those adages. Why do we need them? Life is meant to be lived within it's own confines and those confines are usually created by ourselves: our personal and impersonal limitations or our state of mind at any given time. And life often throws its monkey wrenches into our best laid plans which may or may not alter our intended path. Life is meant to be met head on, another adage which I believe is much more accurate than all the other adages combined.

Rebecca

Reviewed by Poets Soul

There is a lot of wisdom in this write. Soul searching questions that even a lifetime cannot answer. I do believe you could live life fully, if life didn't get in the way. Enjoyed

PS

Reviewed by JoAnne Cromp (Reader)

Reviewed on May 23, 2022

Beautiful write of self reflection and examination. Everyday I concentrate on how much God loves me profoundly and has plans of hope, strength and protection for me as His child. This is why I have the drive and purpose to get up daily

Reviewed by Ronald Hull

Lots of euphemisms analyzed and expressed very well. I really enjoyed this romp through phrases that are so familiar yet generally meaningless. Very few of us have our life choices laid out for us. We often make choices and face the consequences.

Lately, I've heard complaints from people ending their working life, not sure what to do. Trapped by their jobs, didn't plan for retirement activities. I thought my father was like that, with no real hobbies except playing softball (until he was 45 and playing with guys in their 20s) and watching lots of sports events on television (a killer). But he took up golf at 60 and mom followed suit. They retired when he was 62 and they had 20 years of playing golf in the North Lake country in summer and down by the border with Mexico in the winter, with a bit of bowling that they always enjoyed for strenuous exercise. Later, dad took to bike riding and walking, always coming up with a project that he had or he helped friends with keeping him busy and his mind occupied.

Ron