Where Are You
by John Herlihy

Where are You—
Where, oh where?
Where to find You—
Where, oh where?

How to see You?
You are nowhere.
Now I see You—
You are everywhere.

Silence surrounds me,
Silence sounds of You.
My voice is sound;
Your voice is silence.

Do I hear You?
Do You hear me?
I listen to You;
Do You listen to me?

I will see You,
Because You are light.
I will love You,
Because You are love.

In my presence
Lies an absence;
In my absence
Lies a presence.

I am distance;
You are nearness.
I am shadow;
You are light.

In Your absence
Lies nothing;
In Your presence
Lies everything.

Who am I
If You are not there?
You are You
If I am not there.

I say: Where are You?
You are oh so far.
You say: I am with you—
Wherever you are.

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Copyright © John Herlihy
Friday, 19 December 2025