-- And --

by John Herlihy

And

Always another ‘and’

On the horizon, in the wind

On the edge of hope and despair

Entreating, crying whispering prayer

One more thing

And then another thing

Let us remember and forget

Treasure our sympathies

Dispel our regret

The power of the word ‘and’

Nothing to be left out

There is always something more

Always something to remember

The burning heat of a dying ember

And the breath of sun and earth

The smell of wind from the sea

Wind-swept snowfields on mountain peaks

A butterfly gently landing on a flower

A church bell breaking silence of the hour

I want to see cities and highlands

Wander vast prairies, explore jungles

I know where I have come from

I want to see where I am going

To watch slowly unfold the bud of knowing

And so much more

That I want to see, taste, smell

To listen to, to touch, to be touched

To watch the ocean tides ebb and flow

To witness flowers in the garden grow

And finally

One last ‘and’

One last thing to feel

One last thing to know

And God said: let it be so

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Copyright © John Herlihy

Sunday 4 August 2024