While All I Ever Truly Wanted (poem) by John Herlihy on AuthorsDen

While All I Ever Truly Wanted
by John Herlihy → (All Poetry by John Herlihy)
Thursday, February 19, 2026 Rated "G" by the Author.

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While All I Ever Truly Wanted by John Herlihy We struggle all through life like a pathetic clod, While all I ever truly wanted was to sing to God. We do things we think we wanted, then feel regret, While all I ever truly wanted was never God forget. We search for fortune across the globe as if blind, While all I ever truly wanted was keep God in mind. We wonder, think, probe and many questions raise, While all I ever truly wanted to send forth my praise. We have our ups and downs, our lives full of emotion, While all I ever truly wanted was to kneel in devotion. We seek pleasure in the senses, always wanting more, While all I ever truly wanted was a loving God to adore. We wish and want, we lose and miss, we fall into despair, While all I ever truly wanted was to live life as a prayer. - - - - Copyright © John Herlihy Saturday 1 November 2025

Reviewed by Rebecca McKeehan

Reviewed on March 1, 2026

We should all live our life as a prayer of gratitude. There is so much to be thankful for, even when there doesn't seem to be.

Rebecca

Reviewed by Jms Bell

Reviewed on February 24, 2026

I ENJOYED THIS, MY FRIEND. AND, OF COURSE...IT MADE ME THINK ABOUT ALL I EVER WANTED IN LIFE. THIS IS NOT A HARD ONE FOR ME. ALL I EVER WANTED WAS...LOVE. AND, LET ME TELL YOU...I TORE THROUGH THIS WORLD TRYING TO FIND IT THE BEST WAY I KNEW HOW, YET STILL I DID NOT FIND IT. BUT THEN, ONE DAY...LOVE...? IT FOUND ME. AND, AS IT TURNS OUT...'HE'...WAS THERE ALL THE TIME, JUST WAITING FOR ME TO TURN AND ACCEPT 'HIM'. ENJOYED, THANK YOU. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS

Reviewed by Odin odin@aflx.com

Reviewed on February 20, 2026

Interesting self-portrait, John. My recent post of "Unattached" echoes your thoughts in another way, but, like you in your past two postings have glorified the needs or wants. Everyone has an inner-being that serves without expecting anything in return... much to the compliment of your preface. Well done, as usual, John.

Reviewed by Diana Legun

In my opinion most poems deserve at least a second read; often third, sometimes fourth. These couplets carry the dichotomy of our human condition very well; the contrast concisely spelling out our conundrum. I find the characteristic of repeated lines that you often craft into your writing, to be a plus in making words into the chorus of linguistical (I get to make up words) music. And your (I�m guessing AI) is enchanting. Keep composing, and I�ll be reading*~~ djl