Meaningless Opportunity

A character in a novel pleads,

What does it all mean?” and another

Character is written to reply,

What do you want it to mean? You stop,

Lifting your eyes from the glowing terms.

That’s a question that’s on to something.

In the book, the focus is narrow—

The query throws chiaroscuro

Light to illuminate characters.

But you could widen the aperture.

As far as meaning, human beings

Wield all the creative power of gods.

Meanings are what you want them to mean.

But if you’re wondering why you’re still

Begging wanly, What does it all mean?

Recall you’re not the only human.

Not only can meanings be social

Inventions—they can be fought over,

Both by groups and individuals.

They can be mutually exclusive.

They can coexist in a welter

Clustered around or close to the same

Phenomena—you can make your own.

You can always make your own. You will

Always make your own. But others will

Make their own, often with vast on-ramps

To your own, interstates plowing through

Your modest, once vibrant neighborhoods

Of your locally produced meanings.

Sometimes, however, you’ll get lucky.

You’ll find yourself in a wilderness,

In some meaningless part of the world.

Do not, do not, do not, do not cry

Out for help, do not panic yourself,

Or despair at the meaninglessness.

Shrieking will give you away to those

Who will rush in with their own meanings,

Specify for you what this all means,

And steal your wilderness forever.

This is is your best opportunity

For meanings you want the world to mean.

Ask, What does it mean? Start answering.