Shadows of a Guilty Conscience
By John Herlihy

Shadows of a guilty conscience are long and dark;
But in the folds of its darkness there lies a spark.
Beware when a guilty conscience may awaken,
Invading our good will with some fault mistaken.
Our inner sky drained of blue by overcast clouds;
Our motives questioned, now wrapped in shrouds.
To roam within our minds invisible as if not there;
To enter into the heart without invitation or care.
On silent wings, our conscience flutters and flies;
Its negativity arouses what our happiness denies.
Well-intentioned behavior often turns out wrong;
They fool us with make-believe, hollow as a gong.
Give me a guilty conscience and I give you a whim;
Forgiveness promises redemption from personal sin.