-- What We Cannot Know --

­­John Herlihy

What is it that we cannot know,

The overwhelming peace of snow.

What is it that we cannot hide,

The vastness of the ocean wide.

The waves crash and crush us,

Mounting before expiring on the shore.

The stars awaken and inspire us,

Inklings of mystery, we are left wanting more.

Then the wind with its ghostly voice,

Its whispers soothe with calm.

In filling the ears, our hearts rejoice,

Its sweet intimacy echoes as a psalm.

Celestial perfumes stir the sense of smell,

Filling our heads with sweet dreams.

Holding the blossom to the nose will tell,

The secret of the flower, what it means.

Such feeling lies within the sense of touch,

The caterpillar tickles the inner palm of my hand.

A gentle caress ends up meaning so much,

A cresting wave of emotion I cannot withstand.

There is so much in this world we want to know;

Indeed, so much in this world we cannot ever know.

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Copyright © John Herlihy

Tuesday 15 December 2020