Mirror Poems: Gone Before Goodbye (poem) by John Herlihy on AuthorsDen

Mirror Poems: Gone Before Goodbye
by John Herlihy → (All Poetry by John Herlihy)
Sunday, November 30, 2025 Rated "G" by the Author.

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In tribute to all the Alzheimer's victims, both the sufferers and those who suffer with them.

MIRROR POEMS Gone Before Goodbye by John Herlihy Gone before goodbye A tear still in the eye The drop waiting to fall Footsteps down the hall Nothing left to remember Burnt ash in cold ember Empty eyes diminished blue A sigh heard as wind blew All gone even the despair Whispers without the prayer Suffering under this yoke Fire without the smoke The mind has taken leave No room even to grieve A life has already been Goodbye then gone again Here With You Gone I hold your hand each day Though words have slipped away Your gaze a distant shore I knock, but find no door For you no longer remember For you I will remember Your smile a flicker brief As sunlight through a leaf Then the emotion gone Suffering as quagmire Smoke without the fire The light in shadows drawn Time itself now unstitched Your ghost self bewitched Gone before goodbye Here with you gone Wandered far from view I am still here with you - - - - Copyright © John Herlihy Wednesday 5 November 2025

Reviewed by Jms Bell

Reviewed on January 5, 2026

I ALWAYS LOVE YOUR MIRROR POEMS, JOHN...THANK YOU! LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS

Reviewed by Ronald Hull

Reviewed on December 1, 2025

Here With You Gone brought me to tears. It was though I was experiencing watching a loved one go like that before gone.

Reminded me of the time my vibrant grandmother at 85 begin the slide down five years where I visited her a couple of times to her death at 90. How she changed so rapidly in that time. My uncle said she continued to eat well and only died when she was sure to bring all of her sons back together. I watched my dad shake hands with my uncle at the funeral. Their feud was over.

Ron

Reviewed by Odin odin@aflx.com

Reviewed on November 30, 2025

A Poignant and prcious remembrance that is eloquent in its words of respect and passion's residue. Well versed to allow many of us to share in your memory, your mirror of echoes. Thank you for posting.