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John Herlihy

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Of Hope and Despair
by John Herlihy → (All Poetry by John Herlihy)
Wednesday, January 15, 2025    Rated "G" by the Author.
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-- Of Hope and Despair --

by John Herlihy

 

Sometimes it is not despair,

Not the despair that so hurts.

Sometimes it is random hopes,

The random hope that bursts.

A hope never to come true ,

At least despair a thing we knew.

A hope with its false promise,

A despair that inspires solace.

A hope that soon begins to fade,

A despair that cools in the shade.

Hope is where despair is born,

Despair is where hope is born.

When one’s hope eventually done,

The worst of despair finally wrung.

A simple wish lies between the two,

Of hope and despair, let them be true .

- - - - -

Copyright © John Herlihy

Sunday 8 December 2024


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 Reviews of "Of Hope and Despair"
Reviewed by Jms Bell
Reviewed on February 25, 2025
INDEED, FROM OUR DARKEST NIGHT OF DESPAIR...CAN ARISE OUR BRIGHTEST LIGHT OF HOPE. THE LAW OF NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE...WILL EVER TOUCH ALL AREAS OF THE HUMAN EXISTENCE. THE WORD OF GOD PUTS IT THIS WAY, '...ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD....' A FINE SHARING, THANK YOU. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS.

Reviewed by Ronald Hull
Reviewed on January 16, 2025
A poem very apropos for those who have survived the fires in California only to be faced with whether or not they can rebuild both their homes and their communities to the way they were before, sometimes stretching back for generations.

That could be the hope that creates a more fire and flood proof Community for those who have hope based on their survival of their ancestors in coming to California and staking out ground that wasn't developed at all.

Let us hope they have the hope to overcome their despair, even if they have washed loved ones in the process.

Ron

Reviewed by Diana Legun
Reviewed on January 15, 2025
Vastly-intriguing, John. Topic is up front in the movie theater, since I hardly think there is a person, including small children, who didn’t, doesn’t or won’t personally experience this. My favorite two lines are “Hope is where despair is born,/Despair is where hope is born.” Those two lines wrap up the conundrum tamal and sauce it for the first and last bite, for me. ~~ djl

Reviewed by E Phillips
Reviewed on January 15, 2025
A dichotomy not often seen together. You placed them side-by-side brilliantly. Many thanks, John.


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