MIRROR POEMS
-- On Being Judgmental --
John Herlihy
I have no interest in being judgmental,
It’s a question of philosophy elemental.
Some ever watching the antics of others,
Wield an ethical measure that smothers.
As if their judgement can alter one’s fate,
What you think of me I care not to relate.
Opinions are given as waters to run clean,
Righteousness runs as a torrential stream.
Whatever you ponder can leave no doubt,
You know nothing of me, what I am about.
Accusations upon others but a boomerang,
Returning to the singer their own song sang.
To be judgmental doesn’t mean to be a judge,
Instead, it may mean that you bear a grudge.
The true judge will display a level impartiality,
Judgments that bear the hallmark of neutrality.
People’s judgments are often cruel and cold,
Weak-minded people endeavoring to be bold.
As cruel as winter and as flakey as the snow,
Beware the true intentions that may lie below.
-- On Being Judged --
John Herlihy
I wonder in the end how I will be judged,
Will all my efforts end up being smudged?
We know now how we are judged by others,
Is it only an ethical measure that smothers?
In other people we easily their faults can find,
Whereas to our own faults we are fully blind.
In a beautiful face, blemishes we freely espy,
Then blame the little specks that dim the eye.
We smile so amusedly at other people’s faults,
The way greedy men struggle to fill their vaults.
Yet, a reckoning always arrives as the feast is o’er,
Our own faults made known as we smile no more.
No way to judge the future but to look at the past,
The actions of humanity produce effects that last.
We may not discover clearly what time has blurred,
Effects left behind, while people in graves interred.
Beware that we judge others without any mercy,
Lest we ourselves are judged without any mercy.
Do not judge others, if you wish not to be judged,
Each their own fate, on life’s lonely road trudged.
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Copyright ©John Herlihy
Wednesday 28 July 2021
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We all are being judged in many ways, but the ultimate judgment is whether or not we are accepted for being honest rather than for catering to others to get them to like us. I know that my honesty has caused others to judge me badly, but that's okay. I find often in those cases that those that judged may well far exceeded those that didn't.
A very good, thought provoking, poem.
Ron
People should spend some money on professional editors if they choose to publish a book. It is, only, because they respect their fans and supporters so much so they would want their books to be perfect before it goes into publishing.
I, myself, have had received some harsh reviews as well at one time or another, but never had I held any grudges on the reviewers because for every review that they made they must have spent some of their precious time in reading, absorbing, and writing up the reviews to my work. So, to that, I am always thankful for their time spent.
Yes, we must always see things on both sides and never give our judgment on another when we only know half the truth. Never lean on one side when we make a judgment on others, as in most instances the consequential action most often only rests upon ourselves as to what to do next.
Sandie