Then Was Once Now (poem) by John Herlihy on AuthorsDen

Then Was Once Now
by John Herlihy → (All Poetry by John Herlihy)
Monday, March 18, 2019 Rated "G" by the Author.

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--- THEN WAS ONCE NOW --- By John Herlihy Between the man I once was and the man I am now, I see a person who is completely different somehow. I see a photo of myself, look at it with the same eyes, The intense eyes looking back at me as if to chastise. In retrospect, hard to image then as being once now, Time never so poignant as the way we look somehow. The eyes that stare back cannot see me as I am now, No one ever thought then of becoming old somehow. In childhood, the days pass us by as a moveable feast, We forever changing, nothing bothers us in the least. In youth, the future looming strong, the past still near, Our hopes and dreams mounting, with nothing to fear. In maturity, I wonder if I am the person I wanted to be, Life unfolded in a way that I never thought it would be. In old age, I now seem to fit in as I am and not as I was, Firm in the belief we change as a result of nature’s laws. The passing of the years has turned into a thing of beauty, The body always changes, but the soul has its own integrity. “Then” was once now and “now” will once again become then, Eternity will be forever now; time will forever be as has been. - - - - - - - - - - (c) John Herlihy 2 November 2018

Reviewed by D.T. de Bruijn

Reviewed on March 19, 2019

I also never thought I would become the way I am now, or would go through the things I went through, that changed me in a way I'm not sure I appreciate. In the past I thought I knew myself, but now I know I didn't. I know more about myself now, having gone beyond many limits, but I'm sure there's still more to me. I just hope I'm not the kind of person God hates, a lazy lying coward capable of the worst of sins. But then aren't we all? I'm sure. A very thought provoking poem.

Reviewed by John Bidwell

I nearly vanished from a hospitalization this past December 10th.
Feels a bit more interesting pondering that now.
Each day is a gift, but closer to our last.

John

Reviewed by Budd Nelson

and now will become once and over again, love this write John
budd

Reviewed by Ronald Hull

You always come up with rather unique themes for your poem, and this one is very interesting. Something that I never thought of, but quite true. Most of us can't imagine ourselves being older, perhaps unless we are an actor who is playing a part where we have to be made up to look much older than we really are. So, it can probably come as quite a shock if we live long enough to see ourselves in old age, so unlike our youthful appearance. Believe me, I'm seeing it and not necessarily comfortable like becoming a jolly old Santa Claus or something like that with a twinkle in my eye.

But your last stanza is more like a strange riddle. Tried to figure it out� Never thought of a time as being a, "has been," like someone who has fallen from grace or status.

Ron

Reviewed by Jms Bell

THANK GOD FOR GROWTH AND CHANGE, THAT WHAT USED TO BE IS NOT ANY LONGER. EVERYTHING, INDEED, DOES CHANGED...NOTHING STAYS THE SAME. SO, 'NOW' WILL, OF COURSE, ONE DAY BECOME 'THEN' AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY WHEN CHANGE WILL CEASE... TIME PASSES AWAY AND ETERNITY REIGNS FOREVER. I LIKED THIS, MY FRIEND. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS.