The World of Opposites

-- The World of Opposites -- John Herlihy We live in a world of opposites, Nothing at all rings as it seems. Emotion arises from deep deposits, And we know little of what it means. Things near often seem incredibly far, The nearness raises questions distant. Closeness our sense of peace may mar, Two opposites ringing loud, insistent. Distant thingx can seem incredibly near, As near as the beating of one’s heart. The North Star in the distance held dear, Every night it returns, never to depart. For every spring there is an autumn, Spring rains countered by falling leaves. For every summer there is a winter, Floral gardens turn winter-land that grieves. The day is drawn from the dark of night, The rhythm of shadows softens the glare. Night drawn from the day’s receding light, The truth of this message of hope we bear. Our sorrows shadow our happiness of mind, A sad burden that we think we cannot bear. Our happiness tempers our sorrows in kind, Relief bestowed upon us as its rightful heir. How to know strength if our weakness us eludes, The lightest of feathers puts a bird in its groove. How to know weakness if strength never intrudes, Persistent waves wear the rugged rock smooth. No opportunity of forgiveness without any blame, Those who suffer blame seek forgiveness as a given. While blame without forgiveness leaves but shame, Those who forgive, their own blame be forgiven. If hope will spring eternal, then so will despair, Despair can turn into a waiting without hope. Despair a realm infernal, while hope a prayer, When all else fails, we cling to the divine rope. The world of opposites offers a world of insight, We know the wrong because we know the right. Love is untrue to itself if it finally turns into hate, Kindness cannot be too soon if it ends up too late. - - - - - - Copyright © John Herlihy Saturday 17 October 2020