Half Love
By John Herlihy

Ain’t never had true love,
Only half love at best,
Not full-like that is,
Brimming with emotion,
Like the full moon,
Inspiring devotion.
Love ran half a mile,
Then just sat itself down,
Taking a rest in style,
Half-moons, half measures,
Love was just mistook,
For exotic pleasures.
Life a teeming world,
Myself an exiled traveler,
A rock by the roadside hurled,
My days, a lonely unraveler.
Until one day, surprise,
The unexpected happened.
Someone handed me a baby
“Just hold it a minute,” she said.

The soft, warm baby in my arms,
I went all rigid.
Didn’t know which way to turn,
I felt all frigid,
That was when I looked down,
Into the sweet mystery of the infant face,
A bundle of mirth, a fighter’s frown,
Looking at me with heavenly grace.
The baby’s breath smelt of sour milk;
The skin had the feel of softest silk.
The baby then looked me,
Straight in the eye,
As only a baby can,
With no pretense of being shy,
Sea-blue windows in a blackened sky.
They just pulled me; I was falling in,
Until I felt I was going to cry.
Deep eddies swirling all around,
Half love made whole,
I was fully found.