-- On the Knife’s Edge --

By John Herlihy

We walk through life on a knife’s edge,

Each step of the way making a pledge.

Sharpness of the path makes us aware,

Every journey becomes a kind of dare.

Whether joy or sadness, life and death,

Choices and decisions at every breath.

Courage always propels us ever forward,

Feelings of weakness make us a coward.

Pride will evaporate humility’s steam,

Betrayal will awaken our trust’s dream.

Nighttime swallows the daytime light,

Fear will dress us in a cloak of fright.

The blessing of charity in a simple smile,

In the shadow of a frown lies simple guile.

The mask of deception lies in the false face,

A wrong turn will leave us in a wrong place.

Our hopes and dreams fill destiny’s sails,

While misery and despair come to no avail.

Some gather treasures at special cost,

Others lose the way and find themselves lost.

On the knife’s edge we try to stand tall,

Fearing at any moment that we might fall.

The knife’s edge leads to a mountain peak,

Where we hope to find the visions we seek.

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(c) John Herlihy 5 October 2018