I Don't Care (poem) by John Herlihy on AuthorsDen

I Don't Care
by John Herlihy → (All Poetry by John Herlihy)
Thursday, July 16, 2026 Rated "G" by the Author.

Save



Mirror Poems by John Herlihy I Don’t Care I don't care if nobody thinks of me anymore. I don't care if I spend my days by myself. I don’t care If people don’t fully understand me. I don't care if my poems never win a prize. I don't care About superficiality, crudity, triviality. I don't care if people are indifferent or ignore me. I don't care That people call me Mr. rather than Dr. I don’t care If it’s cloudy or raining. I don’t care if it’s the last day of the year. I don’t care That I am growing old. I Do Care I do care when people behave badly or crudely, I do care when people interrupt or refuse to listen. I do care when I’m misrepresented or unfairly judged. I do care when someone smiles at me warmly. I do care About keeping busy and not wasting time. I do care when someone says they miss me. I do care that I have lived a full life. I do care if I could never travel anywhere again. I do care when I lose something I cannot find. I do care about deeper meaning, beauty, spirituality. Sometimes Sometimes, I am like the sky-- Expansive, detached, unburdened, I don’t care. Sometimes I am like the wind-- Active, purposeful, alive. I do care. Sometimes I am like the stars-- Distant, silent, mysterious, I don’t care. Sometimes I am like the moon-- Intimate, reflective, soulful, I do care. Something unknown waiting for me-- I don’t care. Someone known waiting for me-- I do care. - - - - - Copyright © John Herlihy Tuesday 30 December 2025

Reviewed by Jms Bell

Reviewed on September 14, 2026

AN INDIVIDUAL CAN DO EXACTLY AS THEY PLEASE AND THEY CAN CHOOSE, WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE, TO CARE....OR...DON'T CARE, SOMETIMES. ENJOYED, MY FRIEND. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS

Reviewed by E Phillips

Reviewed on July 18, 2026

I have noticed that most good writers are not good speakers, and most good speakers are not good writers. Both usually know their subject well; both are usually entertaining; and both do a good job of showing me that I am not that good at either speaking or writing. But like you, I never rest on my laurels.

Reviewed by Ronald Hull

Reviewed on July 17, 2026

Read like a fight between the ego and the id. But I could relate to every line. Especially when they keep calling me, Mr. Ron. When, for most of my life I was called Ron, Mr. Hull, or Dr. Hull, correctly and respectfully.

I think it's best not to care for all the trivia and all the ignorance. But to care greatly for your craft and what you can offer through your poetry to bring people closer to the light of day in reality.

Ron

Reviewed by Odin odin@aflx.com

That relationship of what you do care about and what you don't is a courageous position to take in this muddied world of a pandemic of opinions that have neither a tether nor an invite to foist their opinion on those, like yourself, who don't give a damn. Were there more of your mindset, we wouldn't have so many twisted ideas often taking precedence.

Reviewed by Richard Cederberg

Reviewed on July 16, 2026

Indeed! Your yin/yang thinking reflects (IMO) a deep philosophical belief that your worth, your truths, and your path, are yours alone to define, and that dismissing (or accepting) other peoples opinions and behaviors towards you is a personal act of liberation and integrity. Dr Seuss had it right. "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." Enjoyed the read. r