Still Life (poem) by John Herlihy on AuthorsDen

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John Herlihy

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Still Life
by John Herlihy → (All Poetry by John Herlihy)
Tuesday, August 12, 2025 Rated "G" by the Author.

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Still Life by John Herlihy The beauty of a still life Serenity held in repose An image free of strife A door never to close Solitary flower in a vase The image held in cameo Dark shadows that amaze Faint whispers of a piano A lemon resting on a plate Another resting on its side Seducing eager eyes as bait An image that has never lied Sole image without motion Evoking a melancholy mood Without any clear emotion This still life stripped nude Faint light falls across a table Shadows speak of intimacy Intimacy in this visual fable So haunting in its mystery Hush, silence tells a tale That may be keenly heard As in the beauty of braille A moral without a word - - - - - Copyright © John Herlihy Sunday 6 June 2025

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Reviews of "Still Life"

Reviewed by Jms Bell

Reviewed on October 29, 2025

LIFE...! MOTIONLESS, STILLED...HAS A PARTICULAR, UNIQUE BEAUTY, THAT OF WHICH CANNOT EVER BE DENIED, INDEED! WONDERFUL WORK...FANTASTIC IMAGERY! LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS

Reviewed by Ronald Hull

Reviewed on August 13, 2025

The beauty of arranged simple objects has often been captured by artists, making them come alive. But I believe doing still life painting is one of the things that masters require their students to do. Fruit and vegetables, flowers and simple objects have nuances of light and color that can be captured in paint to be almost photographic in their accuracy. While the human eye has a way of taking a sketchy image and perfecting it with our own internal HI power.

Like Odin expressed, as well as your poem. Contemplating a still life is like slowing down I just taking in something that isn't moving or changing all the time.

Ron

Reviewed by Odin odin@aflx.com

Reviewed on August 12, 2025

John, your well-versed and word choices were so well executed. I couldn't help but see your words and subtext as directly related to why I left Hollywood and decided writing we a version of "still life" compared to the multiple modes of expression used in making TV and Motion Pictures. Whereas my son has found the medium perfect for him, after over 50 years acting, directing, and teaching acting and directing, I found myself pulled to what your subtext states to me so clearly. Writing poetry and short stories is "still life" to "moving picture life." The comparison is a natural. Well done, as usual.

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