MIRROR POEMS

-- Life Is Long --

John Herlihy

I think with a sigh:

Life feels oh so long.

Thinking: will I ever die?

Miseries, loss, a sad song.

To drink the elixir of youth,

To suffer more endless days.

In the end, just give me truth,

To change my erratic ways.

There is a point of too much,

To feel we have had enough.

To be supported by a crutch,

Passing days but filling and fluff.

I smoke a pipe and rest content,

That whatever happens is meant.

-- Life Is Short --

John Herlihy

I think with a sigh:

Life feels oh so short.

Thinking: why must I die?

Simple pleasures to abort.

To drink the elixir of youth,

To enjoy many endless days.

In the end, just give me truth,

To keep to my virtuous ways.

There is a point of not enough,

Longing for more life to touch.

Passing days have too much stuff,

Never at any point with too much.

I smoke a pipe and rest content,

Filling this short life as well spent.

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(c) John Herlihy 14 March 2020