Behold, the Human Face
By John Herlihy

Behold, the human face,
Noble talisman of the human race.
In principle, a unifying force of great power;
In practice, capable of serene gaze and harsh glower.
With magical and sentimental properties fully on hold,
To project a range of emotions whether timid or bold.
The image, a symbol reflective of the countenance of the Sublime,
With rarefied instruments that function in lieu of the Divine.
Lodged inventively within the folds of flesh and bone,
The face could actually be called humanity’s true home.

We see the glories of the world and all its sounds we hear,
Through the Divine Eye of God and through the Divine Ear.
Through the mouth a stream of words will our emotions convey,
Through the expressions of the eyes, we give ourselves away.
The innocence of the infant face bears the glow of eternity;
The child’s face reflects the discovery of the human mystery.
The adult face bears the resemblance of an abiding maturity;
While the aging face carries the road map leading to senility.
Hard times are engraved there in the ancient parchment;
There is a beauty shining forth, in the twilight a detachment.

When we look into the mirror, the face never seems to change;
Thru long years, the face remains always familiar and never strange.