-- Never Alone --

John Herlihy

Are we ever truly alone?

No one can rightly say.

Totally here on our own,

With heaviness to weigh.

Here it is, near midnight,

Not a single soul around.

Yet, in the darkness, light,

In utter silence, a sound.

The moon opens its eye,

Darkness of space vast.

A loon utters a sad cry,

Outside, wings fly past.

Indeed, we are not alone,

Whispers and cries near.

In solitude, I am at home,

Chill winter night – clear.

My imaginings run wild,

To places I want to go.

Mind as free as a child,

Full of fireflies – snow.

Beyond my window, stars,

Filling the void of my mind.

Such intimacy fills the hours,

With mystery that feels kind.

Darkness of night tempered,

By the richness of moonglow.

With blessings remembered,

Richness only nights bestow.

Memories now whisper,

Enough to fill the room.

Voices ripples of a river,

As heart flowers bloom.

In this absence, presence,

A spirit you know is there.

A presence fills this absence,

As I murmur solitary prayer.

We think that we are alone,

Totally alone we are – never.

The body but flesh and bone,

Spirit with the soul – forever.

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Copyright © John Herlihy

Sunday 5 March 2023