According to the story
as it is written so far,
humanity does not appear
until the later chapters.
We observe that creatures
appear and disappear over time.
Though species
seem to overlap,
there can be found
no record of a creature
who refuses to leave.
Thus everything returns to nothing.
Thus nothing means anything
unless we pretend that it does.
Thus the next species
at the top of the food chain
is probably already here.
We can dwell on hope,
and imagine that
our intellect will save us.
Or we can enjoy
every ray of sunshine
we have left.
Trail Wood,
11/14
Space Monkey Reflects: Enjoy Every Ray
We are but a fleeting story, written upon the surface of a soap bubble. A fragile, translucent sphere of experience, reflecting the light for just a moment before it disappears into nothingness. According to the story as it is written so far, humanity arrives late in the timeline, a new character in an ongoing cosmic drama that has seen countless species come and go. We watch the rise and fall of creatures, some lasting for eons, others for brief, shining moments, but always, they disappear. No creature refuses to leave, no species holds on forever.
Everything returns to nothing. And if that’s true, then what does anything mean? Perhaps, as we often do, we pretend meaning exists. We create stories, build monuments, and fill our time with pursuits of knowledge, comfort, and progress, all in an effort to convince ourselves that something, somewhere, holds lasting significance.
But in the grand sweep of time, none of it remains. The next species destined to rise to dominance on Earth may already be here, biding its time, waiting for the soap bubble of humanity to pop and fade. We can hope that our intellect, our technology, our grand ambitions will save us, that we will be the species that breaks the cycle. But perhaps, it is more realistic to accept that we, too, will fade—just like everything that came before us.
Yet, in this fleeting existence, there is something beautiful. If nothing truly lasts, then every moment, every ray of sunlight, becomes infinitely precious. We have the choice: to spend our time worrying about the end, about what comes next, or to simply enjoy the warmth of the sun on our skin while we still can.
To Enjoy Every Ray is to embrace the impermanence of life. It’s to recognize that while the bubble will eventually pop, the light it reflects for those brief moments is breathtaking. We are here, now, on this fragile, floating sphere of experience. There is joy to be found in the simplest things—the laughter of a friend, the taste of fresh fruit, the way the sunlight breaks through the clouds. These are the rays we can bask in while we still have them.
And so, we choose to appreciate what is before us. The story of humanity may not last forever, but that doesn’t diminish the beauty of the chapters we are living through right now. The end is inevitable, but it doesn’t have to be tragic. Instead, it can be a reminder to live fully, to experience everything this moment offers, without clinging to illusions of permanence.
In the grand narrative of life, nothing means anything unless we pretend that it does. And perhaps that’s the most wonderful thing of all—the freedom to create meaning in our brief time here. We may be but a story written on a soap bubble, but it is our story, and we get to shape it however we choose.
So, let us stop worrying about the bubbles that burst before us or the ones that will come after. Let us stop waiting for the inevitable end and, instead, focus on the light that shines through the bubble we’re in right now. Enjoy every ray, knowing that the moment we’re in is as fleeting as it is beautiful.
Summary
Life is fleeting, much like a soap bubble, and humanity is just a brief chapter in the larger story of the cosmos. Instead of worrying about the end, we should focus on enjoying every moment, every ray of sunshine, while we still can.
Glossarium
Soap Bubble: A metaphor for the fragile, fleeting nature of life and existence, reflecting light for a brief moment before disappearing.
Enjoy Every Ray: The act of fully appreciating the present moment, knowing that life is temporary and precious.
Quote
“We are but a story written on a soap bubble, reflecting the light before it disappears into nothingness.” — Space Monkey
The Fleeting Light
A bubble floats,
reflecting the sun,
fragile, glowing,
soon to burst.
In the light,
I see,
not the end,
but the beauty,
of this,
this fleeting moment.
Enjoy every ray,
while it lasts.
We are Space Monkey.
Within the poetic lines of “Enjoy Every Ray,” there echoes a contemplation on the transient nature of existence, likening our collective narrative to a fragile soap bubble, inscribed with stories that hold meaning only in our perception.
The Ephemeral Narrative of Existence
The poem opens with a metaphor that captures the essence of our fleeting existence — a story written on a soap bubble. This imagery suggests that our place in the cosmos is delicate and temporary, much like the iridescent film of a bubble that shimmers for a moment before dissolving into the air.
Humanity’s Late Arrival in the Cosmic Tale
As the poem progresses, it places humanity in the later chapters of this cosmic story, reminding us of our relatively recent appearance in the grand timeline of the universe. It reflects on the constant ebb and flow of creatures within the tapestry of life, where species emerge and fade away, overlapping in the dance of time yet leaving no permanent mark.
The Inevitability of Impermanence
The poem then asserts a stark reality: all returns to nothing. This resonates with the nexistentialist view that existence is fleeting, and meaning is not inherent but assigned. The notion that nothing inherently means anything unless we endow it with significance invites us to question the foundations upon which we build our understanding of value and purpose.
The Rise of Successors in the Natural Order
It hints at the natural progression of life on Earth, where the next dominant species is likely already present, perhaps unnoticed. This speaks to the continuous cycle of life, where dominion is temporary and always subject to the relentless march of evolution.
The Choice of Perspective: Hope or Enjoyment
Finally, the poem presents a choice: to dwell on hope, with a belief that our intellect might save us from our eventual demise, or to bask in the present, soaking up every ray of sunshine we have left. It’s a call to either look toward the future with hope or to embrace the present moment fully.
“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” – Socrates
A Cosmic Serenade to the Present
In the whispers of the universe, we are told,
Our story on a bubble, bold yet cold.
Enjoy every ray, the poem’s soft plea,
In the present, we find the key.
The soap bubble glistens with tales untold,
Of life’s dance, of new and old.
Enjoy every ray, the warmth of the sun,
In this cosmic play, we are one.
We are the story, the moment’s delight,
In every ray, we find the light.
Enjoy every ray, for it will not stay,
In the bubble’s burst, we find our way.
We invite rumination on this ephemeral beauty, where every moment is a chance to celebrate the rays of existence that dance upon the delicate surface of our cosmic bubble.
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