Narrow Path (poem) by John Herlihy on AuthorsDen

Narrow Path
by John Herlihy → (All Poetry by John Herlihy)
Sunday, February 12, 2023 Rated "G" by the Author.

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-- The Narrow Path -- John Herlihy Loss walks a narrow path The footprints of grief last Once scolded for a wrong Now the loved one is gone Keeping to simple routines Often fraying at the seams Allow no thoughts to stray Just follow the narrow way Loss runs on totally empty Waiting that sense of plenty Drinking loss in tender sips In memory of brushed lips Adding minutes to an hour Shy moon’s waning power Beyond the path is despair The path itself but a prayer The path has room for one Of shadows and light spun Hope offers feelings more Waves break on the shore Day’s narrow path of light Night’s path past midnight Walking to the very edge Renewing a loving pledge In a new world walking Off edge of world falling In old maps, new terrain Unknown world of pain A path in terra incognita As if banished from utopia Where fire dragons roam Sea serpents are at home Still, the next day arrives Life goes on, life survives In such loss, still grieving In this loss, still breathing With no ifs, ands or buts The head full of chestnuts Now life’s tide only ebbs The head full of cobwebs To see ways of the world Life as a banner unfurled Mountains there to climb Rivers flowing in the mind Ocean tides ebb and flow Wind in windchimes blow Living out in the heartland Now lost in no-man’s-land Silence impressive in loss All seasons tinged in frost Beloved voice never there Only as whispers in the air Silence once ever beautiful Echoes as patience, dutiful Now waiting without end Silence not a sound to lend This narrow path once taken The former life now forsaken The loving voice forever mute The silent melody of the lute The sadness with silence spun Not wishing to disturb anyone No longer just there together The narrow path paved forever Loss heavy enough to reach hell Sorrow deep enough to reach heaven - - - - - - Copyright © John Herlihy Tuesday 10 January 2023

Reviewed by Jms Bell

Reviewed on February 28, 2023

'HE' SAID, 'IN THIS WORLD, WHICH IS NOT OUR HOME, WE WILL HAVE TRIBULATION'. 'HE' SAID, 'PICK UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW ME'. 'HE' SAID, 'WHAT AWAITS YOU IN HEAVEN, WILL BE WORTH...EVERYTHING & ANYTHING...YOU COULD HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED ON EARTH. 'HE' SAID, 'THERE IS ONLY WAY TO TRAVEL THE 'NARROW PATH'(WHICH BY THE WAY, 'HE' DOES NOT EXPECT US TO JOURNEY ON ALONE) AND THAT IS...BY FAITH...' AND OH, HOW I DO EMBRACE AND REVEL IN THE FACT THAT OUR GOD HAS..NEVER, EVER...LIED TO US. 'HE' DIDN'T PAINT A DECEIVING PICTURE OF A 'ROSE GARDEN' DOWN HERE, BUT WAS CANDID AND TOLD US WHAT TO EXPECT. HOWEVER, 'HE' DID 'PROMISE' TO NEVER LEAVE US ALONE AND THAT IF 'TRY' WITH ALL OUR HEARTS, SOULS, BODY AND MIND TO FOLLOW 'HIM'...WE WOULD REACH OUR HOME. 'HE' WOULD NOT ASK US TO DO SOMETHING THAT COULDN'T BE DONE...FOR, 'HE' SAID, 'NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD'. NARROW PATH, YES, BUT THEN WE HAVE AN 'OMNIPRESENT AND OMNIPOTENT GOD...WHO WILL BE WITH US TO THE END, 'HE PROMISED'. AMEN. I HAD TO GO THERE, MY FRIEND, BECAUSE THIS WORK IS ABOUT 'THE PATH' THAT I(ONCE LOST AND BOUND FOR HELL) NOW TRAVEL, BY THE MERCY AND GRACE OF A LOVING AND TRUE GOD. THANKS FOR SHARING. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS.

Reviewed by Ronald Hull

Reviewed on February 13, 2023

It is really amazing how you can pack so much meaning into each stanza while maintaining a rhyme scheme throughout. My only suggestion would be to drop the Thes from the lines in the last stanza.

Ron

Reviewed by Odin odin@aflx.com

Reviewed on February 12, 2023

Oh, yes... an inspired write that will speak softly in its cacophonous relay of all that makes up pain and loss. Your choice of rhyme with words that rendered stanzas expertly navigated and mapped perfectly to draw the reader into a "not one size fits all" appreciation of the open boundaries of poetry. Beautifully rendered. One of your best.

Reviewed by Richard Cederberg

Interesting imagery, John. I read this twice. Has an element of the surreal, even though the spiritual and emotional implications throughout seem very personal. Thanks for sharing. Peace... rlc