Caring Too Much and Trying Too Hard (poem) by John Herlihy on AuthorsDen

Caring Too Much and Trying Too Hard
by John Herlihy → (All Poetry by John Herlihy)
Thursday, July 11, 2024 Rated "G" by the Author.

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-- Caring Too Much and Trying Too Hard -- by John Herlihy Father home from work smelling of cigars, Caring too much and trying too hard. Mother brushing her hands on her apron, Caring too much and trying too hard. The sweet baby and her tender caress, Caring too much and trying too hard. The dutiful son who will never forget, Caring too much and trying to hard. Attentive dogs rest on crossed paws, Caring too much and trying too hard. The snuggling cat purring into my ear, Caring too much and trying too hard. The prodigal son who returns to the hearth, Caring too much and trying too hard. The brave ones who died for their country, Caring too much and trying too hard. My brother talks to the dogs like a friend, Caring too much and trying too hard. First thing in the morning, I make my bed, Caring too much and trying too hard. In living, the world goes into us, Caring too much and trying too hard. At the end, we take our leave, Caring too much and still trying hard. - - - - - - Copyright © John Herlihy Monday 27 May 2024

Reviewed by Jms Bell

Reviewed on September 11, 2024

LIKE YOUR REPETITIVE RHYME SCHEME IN THIS ONE. THOUGH FOR ME...ONE NEVER CARES TOO MUCH NOR DO THEY TRY TOO HARD. GOD'S ALWAYS IN CHARGE SO, I GOTTA GO BACK TO; 'FOR ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD FOR THEM THAT LOVE GOD, CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE'. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS

Reviewed by Rebecca McKeehan

Reviewed on July 14, 2024

"Caring too much and trying too hard" can be self-destructive despite the approval such behavior might receive from those who watch from the outside. Best to find that elusive balance philosophers and mental health professionals speak of so often.

Rebecca

Reviewed by Diana Legun

Reviewed on July 11, 2024

My feelings reading these lines is an appreciation of the very act of �effort.�. You have given us great vignettes of this �effort.� I like the idea of �caring too much,� going hand-in-hand with �trying too hard.� The repetition of those traits I find to be effective. This is an anthem to effort of relationships, people and animals. �In living, the world goes into us.� That is sublime! Valuable contribution, John, thank you! ~~ djl

Reviewed by Ronald Hull

It is a common clich� that working hard will be productive in our lives. Often that is not the case, especially with ADD, attention deficit disorder. Where people are super clean or super neat and often do things far more than they have to, simply because they feel they have to over and over again. More common in women than in men.

Often, if someone stops to think, maybe of a better way, all that caring and hard work might be simplified and easier. We all need to stop working and just relax from time to time.

That's what I got from your very instructive words. My motto: work very hard, but then, play just as hard.

Ron

Reviewed by Odin odin@aflx.com

The subtextual premise--To not work hard at getting the most out of life, one is apt to discover they are caring too little and not trying hard-- shines through this reminder of how serious many of us address life, and of course, how lazy others will tend to be. Thanks for posting.