Held By What I Cannot Hold (poem) by John Herlihy on AuthorsDen

Held By What I Cannot Hold
by John Herlihy → (All Poetry by John Herlihy)
Friday, January 27, 2023 Rated "G" by the Author.

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-- Held by What I Can’t Hold -- John Herlihy I am held by what i can’t hold, Held by the magic nature told. Touched by a loving embrace, Dazzled by frosty winter lace. A thing that can’t be held: light, A thing that we can’t hold: night. Daylight touches us here below, Night bathes us in its moonglow. I reach out for the moonglow, Filled with devotion, compelled. I reach out for the light of night, None of these things can be held. Touch snow and it disappears, In falling snow, peace appears. Ah the contentment of its grip, Its fragile beauty melts on my lip. Beauty of the butterfly or sunset, Feelings of bliss we cannot hold. Treasured feelings that we forget, We never see the flower unfold. Snowfall in winter’s white night, Starlight shimmering feeble light. We wish to touch, to hold sway, To reach out, that’s why we pray. In our hand, we hold the bluebell But we can never hold its beauty Whispers in ears, its story to tell Held by, but not hold, its mystery. Held yet another way of seeing, A new way of holding, of being. Suddenly a delicate veil is lifted, Being held as a new way gifted. - - - - - - Copyright © John Herlihy Wednesday 11 January 2023

Reviewed by Jms Bell

Reviewed on February 28, 2023

THIS REMINDS OF THAT NOTED WRITER OF SCRIPTURES...PAUL. HE OFTEN CALLED HIMSELF A 'PRISONER' OF CHRIST. HELD BY WHICH HE COULD NOT HOLD, YET HE KNEW IT WAS THERE AND WAS SO COMMITTED TO IT...THAT HE FELT HE WAS A PRISONER OF IT. OF COURSE WE KNOW THAT PAUL'S 'PRISONER' WAS GOD. AND SINCE GOD CREATED ALL THINGS TO REMIND US OF HIM...I CAN UNDERSTAND HOW YOU FEEL 'GIFTED'...AS INDEED YOU, AND WE ALL... ARE. INSPIRING AND ENJOYED. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS.

Reviewed by Elisabeth Barstowe

Reviewed on January 31, 2023

Beautiful writing.

Reviewed by Ronald Hull

Reviewed on January 28, 2023

I, too, am enamored by nature's beauty. When we hold some of its fragile beauty in our hand, we kill it. But photography can capture it in ways that we cannot see like a flower unfolding or the slow motion wing beats of a bee or hummingbird in flight. Stop the melting of snow in a warm and. What wonders photography is now revealing! More to write poetry about like you have.

Ron

Reviewed by Diana Legun

Reviewed on January 27, 2023

This carries well your propensity for nature appreciation, John. For me it is always a delight to read your words of gratitude for all rooms in the house of nature. Starting this one with the first line served to fulfill the gauge of a good book�.the first line, so enormously important. I love yours here. It contains the whole rest of your poem. Eye-widening is the line, �We never see the flower unfold.�. I love that! ~~ djl

Reviewed by Odin odin@aflx.com

Here again, your poem title is given its due with touching images of how and what precious Nature's day and night gifts provide. You cover a game of sensory means of appreciation, and for that you should be commended. Fine writing that reaches even the most unknowing of our species. Bravo.