Imperative

[rblumberg]

Imperative


If there is nothing at the end,
Then there is nothing to anticipate
And nothing to lose anticipating
Something in its stead. Paradise
Perhaps; some appropriate rebirth;
Hell if that’s your leaning. Something
To anticipate, informed by hope or fear,
Attractive as nothing can never be.

If there will be nothing then, then
There can be nothing now, nothing
That will not vanish, leaving
Me with nothing, nothing to be
for. Still, I will be good, and if
It turns out I am good for nothing,
Then nothing will be good enough.
But if anything emerges, as of course
all must, if anything will be,
Then it will be better to have been
Good, though nothing commanded that:
No paradise, no future birth, no hell.

Nothing demands goodness. If
I have nothing, then I have
Nothing to hate, but now may love
All with nothing. With anything, if
I have anything, I may then
Give some of that away to someone,
Anyone I love now, and lose
Nothing. And whatever
I keep or give, anything or not,
I must be honest about that,
Anticipating nothing, and be
Grateful for that. Love, gifts,
Truth and gratitude, all
And nothing. All that is good.


With regard,

Richard

[Delta40]

It is just too early in the morning for me to absorb this thoughtful piece. I need a coffee first. Please tell me you wrote this at a later hour in the day!

[deryk]

What an optimistic view of nothingness! I feel like you've wrestled with an immovable object and come out on top.

[rblumberg]

It is just too early in the morning for me to absorb this thoughtful piece. I need a coffee first. Please tell me you wrote this at a later hour in the day!

Actually, the idea was there when I woke up, and I had the basic structure written by the time I'd finished my coffee and muffin; spent the next day or so tweaking, working on the rhythm, adding and subtracting complexity.

I don't remember precisely. It was a few years ago.

But most of my ideas come early in the morning.

With regard,

Richard