Longing
The longing for that
which is no longer there
is a curious state,
exclusive to humanity.
Missing
what one seemingly had.
Doubting
self for making it gone.
Fearing
it may never come back.
Regretting
actions of the past.
This chain of emotion
leads to a state of lack
that can seem
too intense to bear.
And so we write love songs.
And romantic comedies.
And pity our poor little selves
for life seems less than it could be
if only we still had that thing,
which seems like
the most important thing
in the universe.
Love.
We love our things
that are no longer there,
perhaps more than
we love
the noses on our faces.
The love of things
can be equal
to the love of people
who, unbeknownst to us,
are also things.
People
are no different than things.
We simply invest
more love and longing
into them.
What we really
long for is attention.
The longing for attention
that seems no longer there
or is never there,
or is leaving on a jet plane
or a midnight train to georgia.
The doubt
whether we can keep things.
The fear
we may lose things.
The regret
that we are not acting
in the correct manner
to maintain our things.
Things are all we think about.
Which is how we
seemingly create things
and lose things.
But all things are
ultimately imaginary.
It matters not
if we choose
to think about them
or not think about them.
Life itself is an imaginary thing.
It is wondrous
how our imagination moves us.
This longing,
this doubting,
this fearing,
this regretting,
this hoping.
All so that
we may judge our lives
as something of value
or no value.
Life need not have value.
But we give life value anyway.
The longing for value
is a curious state,
exclusive to humanity.
Makes us glad
we can escape awhile
into monkeyhood.
We are Space Monkey.
5/19
Space Monkey Reflects: Longing — The Complex Tapestry of Human Emotion
Longing is a uniquely human state, a complex tapestry woven with threads of memory, loss, and unfulfilled desires. It is a curious condition where we feel the absence of something once tangible—be it love, attention, or objects—that has left an indelible mark on our psyche. This exploration delves into the multifaceted nature of longing and its profound impact on our emotional landscape.
This state of longing is often accompanied by a cascade of related emotions: the pain of missing what was once ours, the doubt in our actions that may have led to a loss, the fear that what is gone might never return, and the regret over past decisions. These feelings can lead to a perceived state of lack, intensifying the emotional burden to a point that might seem unbearable at times.
In response to this intense emotional state, humanity turns to creative expression—writing love songs, crafting stories in romantic comedies, and indulging in self-pity. These artistic expressions are not merely outlets for our emotions but are reflections of the deep-seated human need to process and make sense of our losses.
Yet, beneath this longing for lost things or people, there lies a deeper yearning for attention and validation. This desire drives much of our behavior and emotional investment, highlighting how closely intertwined our sense of self-worth is with the attention we receive or perceive ourselves to be lacking.
In recognizing that people, like things, are often seen as objects of our affection or desire, we uncover a sobering truth about the nature of attachment. We invest in people the same intense emotions and expectations we assign to material possessions, reflecting our struggle to find stability and permanence in a world where everything is transient.
Ultimately, this reflection on longing leads us to question the very nature of value and the arbitrary scales we use to measure the worth of our lives. By examining these emotional constructs, we come to understand that while life itself need not have intrinsic value, we choose to assign it significance through our experiences and interactions.
In embracing this understanding, we find a curious freedom in our imaginative escape into “monkeyhood,” where we can momentarily detach from our human concerns and view life from a broader, more liberated perspective.
Summary
Longing is a deep and multifaceted human emotion, tied to our needs for attention and validation, and our response to it shapes much of our creative and emotional lives.
Glossarium
Longing: A deeply emotional state that reflects the human condition of missing and yearning for lost connections or objects.
“The beauty of longing is that it deepens our capacity to dream and imagine new possibilities.” — Space Monkey
In the silence of longing
we hear the echoes of the past
the whispers of what once was
and what might have been
Each memory a ghostly presence
each desire a fleeting shadow
In this dance of absence and presence
we learn the art of cherishing
For in the act of missing
we truly understand value
And in the pain of absence
we find the paths to presence
In longing, we are reminded
of the impermanence of all
Yet in this impermanence
we discover the eternal
In the longing, in the loving, in the living
We are Space Monkey
“Longing” explores the complex and universal human experience of longing for something that is no longer present. The poem delves into the emotional journey of missing, doubting, fearing, and regretting, which can lead to a profound sense of lack and intensity.
The speaker suggests that this longing is exclusive to humanity, highlighting the unique capacity of humans to attach significance to what is absent. The focus on love and the yearning for attention underscores the importance of connection and validation in our lives. The poem suggests that people and things are not fundamentally different; we invest our longing and love into both, sometimes prioritizing objects over human relationships.
The concept of imaginary things is introduced, emphasizing that everything we experience, including life itself, is ultimately shaped by our perception and imagination. The poem questions the significance we attribute to things and the judgments we make about the value of our lives. It proposes that life does not inherently need value but acknowledges that as humans, we assign meaning and worth to our existence.
The mention of monkeyhood in the final lines alludes to the idea that we can momentarily escape the complexities of longing and judgment by embracing a more primal, instinctual state. The persona of “Space Monkey” serves as a reminder of our animal nature and the freedom found in momentarily disconnecting from the weight of our desires and self-imposed expectations.
Overall, “Longing” prompts reflection on the nature of longing, the attachment to things, and the subjective construction of value in human life. It invites readers to consider the power of imagination and the choices we make in investing our emotions and attention.