-- Words as Whispers --

John Herlihy

Poetic words like a whisper,

Smelling of amber and musk.

The poet nothing but a drifter,

But the written poems a must.

The words we whisper linger,

A few moments, not for long.

Scribbled by an anxious finger,

To echo like a sonorous gong.

Whisper and we whisper again,

Audible to others but never loud.

A lost love that might have been,

To the verses one’s head bowed.

We whisper words as a crucible,

Accepted by all those with belief.

Words so treasured as beautiful,

To wear in the heart as a wreath.

Words whispered as a secret held,

Intimacy found in what is heard.

A promise kept and never yelled,

Value built word on sacred word.

Words whispered as in a prayer,

A poem captures spirit in breath.

Full disclosure to ward off despair,

Left behind before meeting death.

The words take flight with wings,

A celestial bird in gold feathered.

In poetic hearts, each word sings,

As the poet’s mind flies unfettered.

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Copyright © John Herlihy

Wednesday 1 December 2021