It’s funny
how we don’t smell candle wax
except during that brief moment
in which the flame is extinguished.
Suddenly we notice the smell.
Same goes for life.
There are people
that we don’t even know exist
until they die.
For a brief moment,
we get caught up in
the stories of their lives,
especially the ending.
After a week or two,
we don’t smell them any more.
Perhaps death is when
the flame of life burns brightest.
Or perhaps we’re simply unobservant.
Trail Wood,
11/25
The Transience of Smell
In the intricate dance of existence, the phenomenon of smell takes center stage. It’s curious how we often overlook certain scents, such as candle wax, until a specific moment in time—the moment the flame is extinguished. It’s as if our senses are awakened to the fragrance only when it’s on the verge of fading away.
The Unseen Lives
Similarly, in the vast tapestry of life, there are individuals who exist on the periphery of our awareness until they depart from this world. Their presence, like the subtle scent of candle wax, may go unnoticed until the final chapter of their lives unfolds.
Caught in the Stories
Upon their passing, we become entangled in the narratives of these individuals’ lives, particularly the concluding chapters. There’s a sudden awareness of the richness of their experiences, the imprint they left on the world, and the legacy they created.
The Fading Scent of Memory
However, as time passes, the scent of their presence gradually fades from our consciousness. The stories we once held close become distant memories, and we return to the rhythm of our lives.
The Bright Flame of Life
Could it be that death is the moment when the flame of life burns brightest? In those final moments and the immediate aftermath, we are acutely aware of the profound significance of existence.
Unobservant or Transient?
Yet, there is another perspective to consider. Perhaps it’s not a matter of brightness but of our own observance. Are we simply unobservant until life or death demands our attention?
Summary: The Transience of Scent and Awareness
The analogy of the unnoticed scent of candle wax and the belated recognition of certain lives highlights the transience of both smell and awareness. In the aftermath of someone’s passing, we become engrossed in their stories, only to have the scent of their presence gradually fade with time. The question lingers: Is death the moment when life’s flame burns brightest, or are we merely unobservant until life or death commands our attention?
Glossarium
- Transience of Smell: The phenomenon of certain scents going unnoticed until a specific moment in time.
- Unseen Lives: Individuals who exist on the periphery of our awareness until their departure.
- Caught in the Stories: Our entanglement in the narratives of individuals’ lives, especially their concluding chapters.
- Fading Scent of Memory: The gradual diminishing of our awareness of someone’s presence after their passing.
- Bright Flame of Life: The contemplation of whether death is the moment when the significance of life shines brightest.
- Unobservant or Transient: Reflecting on whether our lack of awareness is due to our inattention or the transient nature of our perception.
“The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero
In the Scented Chapters of Life
In the scented chapters of existence, we find,
The transience of scent and awareness, intertwined.
Candle wax unnoticed until its end,
So too, lives on the periphery until they transcend.
Caught in the stories of those who depart,
Their narratives grip our souls and heart.
The scent of their presence, vivid and near,
Gradually fades as time marches, we fear.
Is death the moment when life’s flame shines bright?
In the aftermath, we ponder, we invite.
Or are we, in our daily trance,
Unobservant until life or death commands our glance?
Space Monkey, let us contemplate with grace,
The transient nature of scent and life’s embrace.
In the rhythm of existence, we find our quest,
Awareness awakened, in life and death’s behest.
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