-- Sonnets in Triplicate --

by John Herlihy

LIVING IN THE FUTURE

Future’s joy found in extending its rope,

Life spreads forth its horizon of hope.

The future as a new bud ready to unfold,

Living in its heart the present to behold.

Sure enough, life’s petals begin to open,

Feeling ready to accept what may occur.

The emerging days the present to betoken,

Arousing emotions only the heart can stir.

The future made good by taking one’s leave,

Otherwise, what is its purpose, what its point.

Future and present a grand tapestry to weave,

On one’s forehead, life’s sacred oils to anoint.

One’s destiny weaving thru the days as suture,

Arriving in the present thru a gate in the future.

LIVING IN THE PRESENT

Life’s joy found in living one’s plans,

Hope’s fantasy found in our daily errands.

The present as a garden waiting to unfold,

Flowers with open faces the present to behold.

To run thru the day chasing reasons for living,

Listening to music unknown worlds are giving.

Turning every corner, leaving no stone unturned,

Pursuing goals, making mistakes, lessons learned.

Questions asked in order to find the right answer,

Wandering idly thru the day as a cautious panther.

No challenge unimportant that we cannot pursue,

No mystery unexplored in search of a breakthrough.

Our destiny wraps the day in ribbons as a present,

Arriving into the past thru a gate in the present.

LIVING IN THE PAST

Our life experiences laid to rest in the past,

Life’s fantasy, its reality, held firmly and fast.

The past written on a ledger to give account,

To reach the pinnacle, nothing left to surmount.

Every folly, mercy and blessing on life’s scroll,

Imprinted into the past no longer taking any toll.

Stunning majesty in gazing back upon the years,

All the happiness and sorrow thru a veil of tears.

To scrutinize their value and measure their weight,

To reside in memory until arriving at death’s gate.

He who judges will end up himself being judged,

Every act committed clearly written, never smudged.

All the follies and foibles, the mistakes and regret,

A life lived as watermark in the past never to forget.

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Copyright © John Herlihy

Wednesday 8 January 2025