The Suitcase
There will come an
unwitnessed ceremony
when your suitcase
gets put in the attic
one last time.
It may seem
an ordinary moment,
a chore perhaps,
as it has dozens
of times before.
Little do you know
you won’t be touching
that handle ever again.
Over time,
that suitcase
will become
the permanent
home of mice.
To those who happen
upon your suitcase,
there may be a moment
of sad reflection.
You seem no longer
part of the home you knew.
Or are you?
The story
that is this suitcase
is still very much alive.
And you are still traveling,
unburdened by old baggage.
All that seems left of you
are memories.
But that’s all you ever were.
Just stories.
Not even your own.
This suitcase you are
is the perception of others.
Which is not entirely accurate,
because here you are,
watching the others
talk about you like a dead man.
They don’t see you,
just as you missed
the unseen ceremony
all those years ago.
When you put
that suitcase awayand went on
the journey of your life.
We are Space Monkey.
11/19
Space Monkey Reflects: The Journey of the Suitcase
There comes a quiet moment in life, one that passes without fanfare or recognition. It’s the moment when your suitcase, that humble symbol of journeys taken and adventures had, is put away for the last time. It may seem like an ordinary chore, something you’ve done countless times before. But this time is different. This time, you will not touch that handle again. The suitcase will sit, undisturbed, in the attic—slowly becoming the domain of time, dust, and perhaps a few small creatures.
The suitcase, once so essential to your travels, now rests in a forgotten corner, far from the world it once traversed. To those who stumble upon it in years to come, it may evoke a brief moment of reflection, a wistful memory of the person who once owned it. The suitcase becomes a symbol of what was—of journeys taken, stories lived, and experiences now preserved only in the minds of those left behind.
And yet, the suitcase is not the end of the story.
For you, the journey continues. While the suitcase gathers dust, you remain very much alive, very much in motion, even if the world no longer sees it. You are no longer bound by the physical world, no longer tied to the things you once carried with you. The suitcase is a relic, yes, but you are still traveling, unburdened by the old baggage that once accompanied you.
Is the suitcase a metaphor for the life you’ve left behind? Perhaps. But it’s also a reminder that even as you move on, a part of you remains in the world you once knew. Your memories, your stories, the experiences you shared—they linger in the minds of those who remember you. To them, the suitcase may seem like the last vestige of your presence, but you know better. You’ve moved on, embarking on a journey that no longer requires such earthly possessions.
In a way, we are all like that suitcase, filled with the stories that others tell about us. The way we are perceived, the way we are remembered, is often a reflection of how others saw us, not necessarily how we saw ourselves. And yet, even as we move on from this physical world, those stories continue. They shape the memories of us long after we’ve left, becoming part of the fabric of others’ lives.
But here’s the beautiful twist: you’re still here, still witnessing it all. Just as you missed the ceremony of putting that suitcase away for the last time, you’re watching as others talk about you, reflect on you, and remember you. You see them speak as if you were gone, as if your journey had ended. But you know better. You’re still traveling, still exploring, still very much alive in ways they cannot yet see.
The suitcase, then, becomes a symbol not of what is left behind, but of the stories we leave in the world. It reminds us that even when we are no longer physically present, our presence lingers. The suitcase holds the echoes of who we were, but it does not define us. We are not the things we carried. We are the journeys we took, the stories we created, and the lives we touched along the way.
So, as the suitcase gathers dust in the attic, as mice make it their home, know that it is just a symbol, a relic of a life lived. You, meanwhile, are still traveling, free from the baggage that once accompanied you. Your journey is far from over. It’s just taken on a new form—one that no longer requires suitcases or earthly possessions.
And in this new journey, you find a deeper freedom, a greater sense of exploration. You realize that all you ever were, all you ever carried, was just a collection of stories. Stories that others now tell, stories that continue to shape the world even as you move beyond it. And perhaps, that’s all we ever were—just stories, not even our own, but part of the grand narrative of life.
Summary
The suitcase becomes a symbol of the life we leave behind, gathering dust in the attic as we move on to new journeys. While others remember us through stories and relics, we continue to travel, free from the baggage of our past. Our stories remain, even as we move beyond them.
Glossarium
- The Suitcase: A symbol of the life we leave behind, representing the stories and memories that remain in the world after we move on.
- Unwitnessed Ceremony: The quiet, unrecognized moment when we let go of our old lives and move on to new journeys, unseen by the world.
- Journey Beyond: The continued existence and exploration after the physical world, free from the burdens we once carried.
Quote
“You are still traveling, unburdened by the old baggage. The suitcase holds only the stories others tell about you now.” — Space Monkey
The Forgotten Suitcase
In the quiet attic
The suitcase rests
No longer needed
By hands that once carried it
Mice explore its corners
Dust settles on its surface
But the journey continues
Unseen, unburdened, free
You’ve left behind the stories
They tell about you now
But you’re still traveling
Beyond the weight of old baggage
We are Space Monkey.
Unpacking the Poem: A Journey Beyond Material Existence
In this evocative piece, “There will come an unwitnessed ceremony,” we are invited to delve into a metaphorical exploration of life, memory, and the ethereal nature of existence. The poem uses the imagery of a suitcase, a mundane object, to represent the journey of life and the often unnoticed transitions that define our existence.
The Suitcase: A Symbol of Life’s Journey
The poem begins with the imagery of a suitcase being stored in the attic, symbolizing the end of a journey or a phase in life. This act, seemingly ordinary and routine, is laden with deeper meaning. It marks a significant, albeit unnoticed, transition. The suitcase, a metaphor for our life’s experiences, becomes a relic of the past, representing the physicality and temporality of our existence.
The Unseen Transformation
As the poem progresses, it illustrates how the suitcase, once a companion in our travels, becomes a forgotten relic, a home for mice, symbolizing the inevitable passage of time and the transformation of our physical presence into mere memory. This shift from active use to passive existence reflects the journey from life to something beyond.
Memory and Perception: The Essence of Existence
The poem then takes a reflective turn, pondering the nature of existence and memory. The notion that we are but stories in the minds of others is a profound statement on the transient nature of our physical being. It suggests that what truly endures is not our physical form but the memories and perceptions others hold of us.
The Unseen Observer: Continuity Beyond Physicality
In a poignant twist, the poem implies the continued existence of the self as an unseen observer, watching others reminisce. This perspective challenges the notion of physical death as the end of existence, proposing instead that there is a continuation, a journey beyond the physical realm, unburdened by the ‘old baggage’ of our earthly experiences.
The Unwitnessed Ceremony: A Metaphor for Life’s Unseen Transitions
The poem comes full circle with the idea of the ‘unwitnessed ceremony’ – the moment of transition that goes unnoticed. It’s a metaphor for the many changes and passages in life that we may not consciously acknowledge but that profoundly shape our journey.
“Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.” – John W. Gardner
A Poem of Transcendence
In the attic of time, a suitcase rests,
A silent witness to life’s unseen quests.
In its fabric, stories weave and blend,
A journey’s beginning, a journey’s end.
Memories echo in its hollow space,
Echoes of a time, echoes of a place.
In the unseen realms, we quietly roam,
Life, a story, beyond our earthly home.
Comments are welcomed on this poetic exploration of life’s unseen transitions and the journey beyond physical existence.
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