Length of Days (poem) by John Herlihy on AuthorsDen

Length of Days
by John Herlihy → (All Poetry by John Herlihy)
Thursday, June 4, 2026 Rated "G" by the Author.

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The Length of Days by John Herlihy By what power can be measured the length of days, By what source can be issued the Almighty's inscrutable ways. Fiery suns are born that inspire universal wonder, Crescent moons with pale light the night’s darkness to plunder. These celestial marvels move solemnly upon a fixed course, Thru ghostly fields of glistening stars ordered by mysterious force. Behold the eloquent expression of such balance and harmony, That routinely follows the directives of such profound mystery. The Biblical Christian tradition speaks of time in the eyes of God. One day as thousand years, thousand years as one day (Psalm 90:4.) With the Lord, one day is as a thousand years (2 Peter 3:8). Similarly, the Islamic Tradition has time on the metaphysical plane. A day with God is like a thousand years (Quran 22:47). A day with God is like fifty thousand years (Quran 70:4). The Hindu Tradition also touches upon the concept of sacred time. One day, one night of Brama each the length of 4.32 billion years. The entire lifespan of Brama amounts to 311 trillion years. Chronological time measures in days, months, years is quantitative, Sacred time measured symbolically as a thousand years is qualitative. The experience of the human reality measures time as taking stock, The divine reality is never measured by the hands of a human clock. Ibn Arabi notes time as ever now, creation renewed, divine breath, Rumi: Past and future veil God from sight, marking the end of death. Krishna says: I am time, the destroyer of worlds, with no limitation, Shankara says: Time is maya, Braman beyond time, pure extension. God’s presence lives as eternal moment that does not pass away, The “eternal now” that sense of time as sacred reality to convey. We have walked together in unison thru the earth’s length of days, Let us continue to walk, you and I, on our journey into sacred time. - - - - - Copyright © John Herlihy Friday 12 December 2025

Reviewed by Jms Bell

Reviewed on July 11, 2026

FINE WORK! I AM ELATED THAT ALL OUR DAYS ARE IN GOD'S HANDS, NOT OURS. HE GAVE US OUR FIRST DAY AND HE ALONE WITH TAKE US ON OUR 'PREDESTINED' LAST DAY, WHICH ONLY HE KNOWS. SO, YES... WE WALK...BUT NOT ALONE. FOR HE WALKS BESIDE US ALREADY KNOWING EVERY PATHWAY, AMEN. SO ENJOYED, THANK YOU JOHN. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS.

Reviewed by Rebecca McKeehan

Reviewed on June 7, 2026

I've sometimes questioned whether time actually exists as we know it. Is it a real entity or just a figment of our imagination to mark our way along life's path? According to science it can be bent and redirected. So how can it exist as we believe it to exist?

Rebecca

Reviewed by Odin odin@aflx.com

Reviewed on June 5, 2026

Including a lesson in history allows this exploration of the hours we dwell within each day to feel that much more precious to respect. We so often take such subjects for granted. You've given us another piece of your eloquent thought to ponder a few times. Liked this a lot, John.

Reviewed by Ronald Hull

Reviewed on June 4, 2026

While astronomy was the first science, it was modified by the alchemy of astrology and religion to become something beyond the mere repetitiveness that created the qualification.

Therefore regardless of all the religious references, the length of days is readily determined by mathematics.

But for the average human it is very good for the day to run out before all things are done�something to look forward to on the next day after a restful night.

On the other hand, if the length of a day grows heavy on one thoughts with nothing to do, they may not sleep well at night I'd be depressed most of the time with nothing to do.

Early to bed, early to rise makes a man's/woman healthy wealthy and wise. Happy, too.

Ron