I never understood the great mysteries,

Enough to know that they are still there.

Leading us deeper into life’s intimacies,

Each one unfolding as a silent prayer.

The earth turning on its axis, tilted precise,

The interplay of shadowy darkness and light.

Noon and midnight held firmly in time’s vise,

The systematic interplay of the day and night.

A universal order all designed to support life,

The message of time in the envelope of eternity.

The paradox of good and evil striding life’s knife,

Our heads bowed in view of the great mysteries.

With them, we find some relief in satisfaction,

Knowing in a mysterious world of unknowing.

Hidden claws in the cat’s feet to give traction,

An unknowing in our glorious world of knowing.

Without them, where would be the comfort,

The possibility of something bigger than ourselves.

A shimmering mirage, tempting us as a last resort,

Not just childhood toys sitting on attic shelves.

Like prayer, we listen but hear no clear answer,

A premonition that something lies behind the veil.

Stalking our every thought like a jungle panther,

Waiting patiently to inspire us from beyond the pale.

No, I never understood the great mysteries,

That lead me beyond the horizon and always will.

Most moving and compelling of all life’s intimacies,

Genie in the bottle, ghost in the night, tempting still.

One final destination, one last great adventure,

Going places where everyone has gone before.

Never to return to relate of this unique venture,

The soul on a journey great mysteries to explore.

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Copyright © John Herlihy

Tuesday 18 October 2022