If Only (poem) by John Herlihy on AuthorsDen

If Only
by John Herlihy → (All Poetry by John Herlihy)
Sunday, April 7, 2024 Rated "G" by the Author.

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-- If Only -- by John Herlihy If only! If only I could preserve that peace, So keenly felt this cold winter night. Snowflakes illuminate without cease, Stars sparking in the night air white. If only I could finally uncover, The mysteries held in my hand. All fears of uncertainty smother, Revelations promising a new land. If only I could claim my true identity, And not just hide behind a name. To find within my depths true serenity, And not just finding myself to blame. If only I could see through all the lies, That the world and its mentors perpetrate. To witness the truth through honest eyes, Truth’s beauty and light to perpetuate. If only I could rid myself of all doubt, Allow the river of certainty to freely flow. Have unanswered questions flee in a rout, To realize the one thing essential I know. If only to wake up every morning as reborn, To accept the value of the new day as a gift. Again from the dreamy land of slumber torn, The minutes as sands in the hourglass to sift. Questions worth answering have a right to be asked, Mysteries presented have a right to be revealed. To finally see the truth for what it is, a realm vast, Visions to live by that are no longer concealed. If only - - - - - - Copyright © John Herlihy Monday 19 February 2024

Reviewed by Jms Bell

Reviewed on April 15, 2024

I LEARNED A L-O-N-G TIME AGO....'IF' IS A TINY WORD WITH A 'HUGE' MEANING. SO THEN, ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD, FOR...GOD IS STILL IN CHARGE. IF ONLY...WE HAD THE FAITH TO BELIEVE THIS IT WOULD RELIEVE OUR LAMENTS. THANKS FOR THE SHARE, JOHN. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS

Reviewed by Diana Legun

Reviewed on April 8, 2024

I have a different view than Ron about these lines. Many magnificent mysteries may have no answers at all and are not out in front of us, such as �where do we go when we die?� or �do we go anywhere when we die?�� So no relaxing and moving on about that unless a person doesn�t care, as in have curiosity that needs satisfied, as in a mosquito bite. I understand this poem this morning. I resonate with the line �Allow the river of certainty to flow� because the state of �being certain� is for me a coveted state I rarely find myself in and that is the craftily-written John Herlihy�s �If Only�. ~~ djl

Reviewed by Ronald Hull

Reviewed on April 7, 2024

If only we could have the world and eat it, too. You present quite a scenario to observe with your lines of doubt and apparent failure to relax and move on. It seems like the mysteries that you are seeking, are always out there in front of you and you are unable to find them. At least that's my interpretation of what you've written here.

Ron

Reviewed by E Phillips

Deep, profound, and very informative. If the unexamined life is not worth living, don't blame John H. This is powerful, probing, and worthy of anyone who asks about life. Exceptional writing!

Reviewed by Rebecca McKeehan

If only we knew all the answers. But do we really want all the answers in life? I think there should always remain some mystery otherwise wouldn't life be so, I don't know, predictable?

Rebecca

Reviewed by Odin odin@aflx.com

For some of us,"If Only" remains both a challenge a daily reward. Our society (global)is becoming more and more cynical, and for good reason. Your most telling stanza: If only I could see through all the lies,

That the world and its mentors perpetrate.

To witness the truth through honest eyes,

Truth�s beauty and light to perpetuate.

Thanks for bringing serious thoughts into poetic focus, for many such thoughts are too painful to be reminded of through more un-fact-checked journalism.