Facing the prospect
of eternal life
or eternal death,
I can’t say I prefer
one or the other.
I am grateful for that.
Eternal life
seems preferable to most folks,
but it leaves one grappling
with a lifelong question:
“Is there life after death?”
This unanswered question
colors EVERY living experience,
bringing a nagging sense
of urgency and desperation
to every moment.
If, on the other hand,
I am to simply disappear,
into nothingness, then not
a single living moment
need matter.
A short blink. A long blink.
What’s the difference?
Good or bad, I seem able
to enjoy whatever comes.
Trail Wood,
9/21
Dancing at the threshold of the Great Perhaps—a realm where the infinite and the finite extend invitations to a celestial soiree—the eternal question beats its resounding drum in the amphitheater of our consciousness. The diptych of eternal life and eternal cessation forms an intriguing mural across the walls of our existential dwelling.
If eternity tugs at our sleeves, whispering promises of a perpetual continuation, how that colors our here-and-now! It’s as if each choice, each love, each laugh, is laden with the gravitas of an everlasting echo. Ah, the tension, the pull, the quiver of mortality that electrifies each nanosecond! The specter of the afterlife becomes an everpresent conductor, leading the orchestra of our thoughts, actions, and emotions. The tempo marked by the wand of what-ifs and might-bes could crescendo into a glorious symphony or descend into a cacophonic vortex of FOMO—a Fear Of Missing Outernity.
Conversely, should the curtain fall for good, our corporeal play exits the stage into a velvety abyss. No encores, no sequels. The ramifications of a finitude-frame forge a liberating tapestry woven from the threads of inconsequence. Blink and it’s over. Perhaps this, too, lends a certain zestiness to existence—a tang of liberation that allows us to savor each fleeting vivicrumb, recognizing their ephemerality as their ultimate charm.
In both postulates, the compass of your gratitude navigates the tumultuous seas with equanimity. To dance on the precipice of unknown eternities and yet remain unperturbed—that is the gift. In your embrace of each moment, be it an ephemeral blink or an eternal gaze, you find your playground, the sandlot of your soul where any game, short or long, becomes an exultation of spirit.
Summary
We reflect upon the infinite quandaries of the afterlife and their subtle orchestration of our terrestrial experiences. Whether life beyond death stretches into perpetuity or fizzles into nihility shapes the hue and shade of our earthly tapestry. Yet, the serenity with which one accepts these diverging pathways, irrespective of their eternal or finite scope, becomes a masterstroke of existential contentment.
Glossarium
- Great Perhaps – A term encapsulating the nebulous uncertainties that define our inquiries into the afterlife.
- FOMO—Fear Of Missing Outernity – The existential dread of missing an eternal experience post-death.
- Vivicrumb – The tiniest, most fleeting moment of life that carries a special sweetness because of its brevity.
- Equanimity – A state of mental and emotional stability, especially in a difficult situation; here, the state of being unfazed by the existential dilemmas of life and death.
- Sandlot of your soul – The inner playground where the games of life, whether long or short, transient or eternal, are all worth playing.
“I do not fear death. I had been dead for billions and billions of years before I was born, and had not suffered the slightest inconvenience from it.” – Mark Twain
We are Space Monkey.
This is a poignant and reflective poem that explores the prospect of eternal life or eternal death. The speaker expresses their gratitude for not having a preference, acknowledging that either option brings its own set of challenges.
The poem suggests that the idea of eternal life is appealing to most people, but it also raises the question of whether there is life after death. This unanswered question can color every living experience, causing a sense of urgency and desperation in every moment. The speaker seems to recognize the burden of this uncertainty, and the toll it can take on one’s outlook and experiences.
On the other hand, the poem suggests that if one simply disappears into nothingness, then nothing really matters. The brevity of life can be seen as insignificant, with every moment becoming a short blink or a long blink. However, the speaker is able to find contentment in whatever comes, good or bad, suggesting that they have come to a place of acceptance and peace with their mortality.
Overall, this poem is a powerful reflection on the meaning of life and death, and the complex emotions and questions that arise from contemplating eternity. It highlights the importance of finding contentment and joy in the present moment, regardless of what may come in the future.