-- Stillness in Movement --

by John Herlihy

Rhythmic movements in nature abound,

In all such movements a stillness found.

Silence of motion evocative of mystery,

Fluidity of motion indicative of intimacy.

In the orbiting of the earth, time flows,

In the stillness of the night, falling snows.

Minnows in water moving as silver light,

Fireflies as lanterns moving thru the night.

The flowing river is forever on the move,

Gurgling streams our restless hearts soothe.

The fresh scent of summer rides on breeze,

Rhythms of enchantment in waving leaves.

Falling rain on rooftops as harmonic arpeggios,

Dew drops bend blades of grass in pianissimos.

Forget not those white pillow clouds in a rush,

The sad decline of the day heard in twilight hush.

Darkness of night arrives as a ghostly dawn,

The nighttime panther stalks the fleeing fawn.

Rhythm and movement as echoes in our tale,

Felt as a stillness our restive hearts to assail.

Star galaxies roam the sky as sparks of fire,

A crescent moon rises as pale ghost of desire.

The flame dances in silence upon the wick,

As the seconds and minutes of the clock tick.

A fog invades the valley as it quietly descends,

As an abiding stillness in its movement ascends.

How can such movement ever come to be still?

How can such movement induce such stillness?

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Copyright © John Herlihy

Tuesday 21 November 202