-- Never Young, Forever Young --

John Herlihy

Once a man lived who was never young,

An old soul emerged as a young body sung.

A truly archaic power in the infant’s stare,

A majestic dignity he always brought to bear.

His youth bore freshness, but his spirit bold,

He knew things instinctively without being told.

The child’s gaze bore the burden of the world,

The fate of humanity from a lightning bolt hurled.

An anchor filled his reality other children lacked,

His hostility to untruths with sacred anger backed.

The statuary calm of his face recalled the Buddha,

A trace of impatience would serve as mere intruder,

Beyond repose, his face shone with an iridescence,

In extreme old age, he still held youthful essence.

Never young, the child an old man’s story told,

Forever young, even when he found himself old.

- - - - - -

(c) John Herlihy 15 August 2020