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John Herlihy

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If
by John Herlihy → (All Poetry by John Herlihy)
Tuesday, May 12, 2026    Rated "G" by the Author.
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Poem Artwork

If

by John Herlihy

 

If you could recall

All that you have ever known

If you might fall

When the candlelight be blown

If you could now keep

All promises you have broken

If you could truth seek

When all lies nothing betoken

If you could remember

All memories that need be held

If you could forget

False hopes that need not dwell

If you could find joy

When you are feeling so depressed

If you could find peace

When worries have you obsessed

 

Then tell me all that you know

Give light to the way of darkness

Find ways to keep your promises

Give up the telling of all your lies

Recall memories for their sweetness

Forget the hopes that turned sour

Take notice of all those little joys

Task leave of all your surly worries

Finally feel that sense of lasting peace

Remember the true reality without cease

- - - - -

Copyright © John Herlihy

Saturday 13 December 2025


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 Reviews of "If"
Reviewed by Jms Bell
Reviewed on May 21, 2026
SUCH A SMALL WORD...IF...BUT WITH AN ASTRONOMICAL MEANING! 'EVERY'... PROMISE OF GOD... IS MINE! BUT ONLY ...IF...I BELIEVE IN AND TRUST HIM BY FAITH, WITH ALL MY HEART, MIND AND SOUL. AMEN. SO THOROUGHLY APPRECIATED! LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH... HIS+INSPIRATIONS

Reviewed by Rebecca McKeehan
Reviewed on May 12, 2026
There are so many if's in our lives and you've laid out many in this thought provoking work. You've given me much to consider.

Rebecca

Reviewed by Odin odin@aflx.com
Reviewed on May 12, 2026
You often write about those aspect of life many of us forget, or conveniently hide in a drawer. We need these kind of poetic reminders to help us keep a balance and avoid the trip-over-shoes into the abyss. Ideas well worth paying attention to and the way you patterned it in this arresting poem was perfect. Thanks for posting. PS- your market piece I really can't respond to as all my investment life (earlier before the 2008 recession that killed me) was all in resort real estate. But that's another story... one that your poem reminded me of.

Reviewed by Ronald Hull
Reviewed on May 12, 2026
You are describing what Maslow called self actualization. To reach a point in your life where you no longer have to struggle with your thoughts or even your physical presence.

Ron


New Poetry by John Herlihy
Popular Poetry (Poetry)
  1.  Catching Happiness...
  2.  Finding Trust Again
  3.  Nightsky
  4.  Reality of Another Kind
  5.  Life's Enormous Green Chest
  6.  Spindrift
  7.  Kindness
  8.  Luxury of Solitude
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  15.  Hunting for Truth
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  17.  Whisper Pens
  18.  Shaved Reflections
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