On Being No One (poem) by John Herlihy on AuthorsDen

On Being No One
by John Herlihy → (All Poetry by John Herlihy)
Monday, May 25, 2026 Rated "G" by the Author.

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On Being No One by John Herlihy He was no one Just another anyone He could be someone One among everyone He had no one He wished to be anyone He looked at everyone Hoping to find someone Then he found someone He was no longer no one Another one among anyone Now a part of everyone Now that he had someone He couldn't tell anyone Just pretend there was no one Otherwise, known by everyone I can tell no one Not believed by anyone Only imagine having someone So I can be like everyone No use telling anyone Believed by no one Still now I have someone Just like everyone “Do you have anyone?” “No, I have no one.” “I know you want someone Someone from everyone,” “She's no one,” he blurted “Aha, she's someone Who was once anyone There from among everyone.” For now he had someone Questions from everyone Not believed by anyone He still felt like no one - - - - Copyright © John Herlihy Monday 11 May 2026

Reviewed by Jms Bell

Reviewed on July 10, 2026

MOST PEOPLE DON'T BELIEVE THAT ONE BEING SATISFIED TO 'JUST BE THEMSELVES', WHATEVER THAT IS, WITHOUT A STAR BESIDE THEIR NAME... IS QUITE ENOUGH. EVERYONE WANTS TO BE 'NOTED' AND REMEMBERED FOR SOMETHING. THEY FAIL TO REALIZE; THE TASK OF 'JUST BEING THEMSELVES' IN THIS CHAOTIC WORLD IS, WITH THE HELP OF ALMIGHTY GOD... AN ACHIEVEMENT. ENJOYED. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS.

Reviewed by William haynes

Reviewed on June 1, 2026

I loved the rhythm of this piece/ It was very very clever

Reviewed by Ronald Hull

Reviewed on May 25, 2026

Reads like the famous, Nowhere Man.

Some wonderful wordsmithing about what it means to be somebody, like another song, Fast Cars. So many go unnoticed under the woodwork and just spend their lives of nothing and nowhere, nobody.

Ron

Reviewed by Rebecca McKeehan

I imagine most of us have felt this way at times. There's a tension between what we want and what we think we want that can extend into our intimate relationships. Then the question becomes what did we really want after all?

Rebecca

Reviewed by Odin odin@aflx.com

A haunting reverie you've composed here. No one and every one... for some of us, such a state of mind makes anonymity seem crowded, yet with hands extended, greeting one no one to another no one. Loved this play of words, John. A difficult idea you've pulled off in a profound way.