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John Herlihy

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To Be Remembered or Forgotten
by John Herlihy → (All Poetry by John Herlihy)
Wednesday, June 3, 2026    Rated "G" by the Author.
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Poem Artwork

 

To Be Remembered or Forgotten

by John Herlihy

 

To be remembered

While one lies

Means something

To be forgotten

While one lives

Means nothing

 

To be remembered

After one dies

Means everything

To be forgotten

After one dies

Means anything

 

To be remembered

While living

Someone cares

To be forgotten

After dying

No one cares

 

While living

Remembered by the One

Who always remembers

After dying

Remembered by the One

Who never forgets

 

After death

The poet is forgotten

Burned ash from a fire

After death

The poems remembered

Burning with a slow fire

- - - - -

Copyright © John Herlihy

Saturday 29 November 2025


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 Reviews of "To Be Remembered or Forgotten"
Reviewed by JMS BELL
Reviewed on July 11, 2026
I THINK ALL ARE REMEMBERED IN SOME WAY ON THIS EARTH. EVEN THOSE TERMED 'FORGOTTEN' ARE 'REMEMBERED' IN THAT THEY WERE AMONG THE 'FORGOTTEN'. THUS, I LOVE THE LAST TWO LINES OF YOUR FOURTH(4TH) VERSE, AS...THERE IS 'ONE'...THE 'MOST' IMPORTANT 'ONE'...WHO NEVER FORGETS...ANYONE, EVER! FINE WORK AND ENJOYED. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS.

Reviewed by Odin odin@aflx.com
Reviewed on June 5, 2026
Yes, the aftermath of a deceased poet is the treasure chest of words expressed in poetic form, a form unlike anyother. I often remind myself of the wonderful digital means of preserving works that last for... well, possibly indefinitely. You will be remembered by anyone who has had the opportunity to feed off of your wisdom and compassion for man and Nature. Thank you for that.

Reviewed by Ronald Hull
Reviewed on June 3, 2026
With the Internet, our poems may hang around forever.

Most people believe that their legacy is their children. That's it. But those of us who write may have a life after death like some of the great poets who died before they were discovered.

Ron

Reviewed by Rebecca McKeehan
Reviewed on June 3, 2026
Oh I do hope not sll sre completely forgotten! There are so many words of beauty to be remembered and recited to quell the ugliness life can throw at us. How many songs from our lifetimes resound in our memories? How many poetic cards and letters? Even when we pass, others find them among our treasures and they live again in someone else's heart, mind, and soul. Even the ones we've penned ourselves.

Rebecca


New Poetry by John Herlihy
Popular Poetry (Action/Thriller)
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  3.  Was
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  6.  This Aging Moon
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  8.  Somewhere They Dance with Angels
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  12.  Best Answers: In Politics and In Life
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