-- Ride the Wind Gently –

John Herlihy

With never a source or origin,

I go whenever, wherever I please.

Untouched, uncorrupted, a virgin,

Always at home, always at my ease.

I pass through wind chimes.

They reply to my quiet greeting.

Whispering poetic rhymes,

At this enchanting meeting.

I soar breezily over mountain peaks,

Flow thru caverns of dark caves.

I blow ceaselessly thru endless weeks,

The frothy spray of cresting waves.

I flow gently thru dewy grass,

Heard as a murmur or a sigh.

Bluebells tremble as I pass,

Their bells joyously in reply.

Invisible, but I have a name,

Aged trees bend on their knees.

Always ready to accept the blame,

Moving thru as a tender breeze.

I hear whispers of willows and pines,

Earth’s oceans roar to my tempest.

The aging fur tree groans and whines,

Peels of thunder crack whips in protest.

What is it but the force of the wind,

To uplift feathered wings of the bird.

What is it but the scent of the wind,

To give voice to what was never heard.

Like the soul, I cannot be seen,

I touch, but cannot be touched.

Wild animals witness my glean,

Always felt and ever untouched.

Ah, the breath of wind to savor,

Roam places angels never tread.

Bold spirit that will never waver,

To ride the eagle on high instead.

Ah, to be as feckless as the wind,

Go to all the places I want to go.

Invisible with no mask to pretend,

No journey’s end, just endless flow.

Stir prairie dust by way of cleansing,

Sagebrush on my open arm to ride.

Pure landscape as a form of blessing,

All sorrows in the wind to confide.

I intend to ride the wind gently,

Thru all the valleys, hill and dale.

I will greet all of nature intently,

With a smile, fare-thee-well, hail.

We cannot claim to be the wind,

Touched by blue sky at every turn.

We can only imagine and pretend,

As heavenly fires smolder and burn.

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Copyright © John Herlihy

Wednesday 30 November 2022