-- The Noblest Endeavor --

John Herlihy

The straight path should not be diverted,

If diverted, it is no longer the straight path.

All crooked paths should be highly averted,

Otherwise, a harsh account in the aftermath.

Nothing is more visible than the hidden,

All of nature reveals much thru her signs.

Nothing is more apparent than the subtle,

Found finally in the corridors of our minds.

Nothing is more open than what is secret,

Waiting for someone the secret to disclose.

Nothing is more known than the unknown,

Staring us in the face as everyone knows.

A person of integrity cautious when seen,

Integrity a fine trait that wears no disguise.

A person of integrity cautious when alone,

Even in solitude, they make no compromise.

Still attentive when they are not heard,

Honest even when they are not listened to.

Their communication attentive to every word,

Comfortable with a silence they gladly knew.

An infinite patience gives color to the wait,

Affection as in the innocence of a child.

His ready kindness feels feather weight,

Spontaneous generosity his inherent style.

The heart beats only for a single lifetime,

The soul on a journey that lasts forever.

The destiny that I live I can claim as mine,

To be true to oneself the noblest endeavor.

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Copyright © John Herlihy

Saturday 4 March 2023