Pearl

Meaning of life poem...this doesn't seek to answer the age old question, why are we here? It is more about the process of how that question gets answered and the end result.

One grain, one irritant

gnawing at, making raw

the softest parts.

A lifetime of care,

wondering, and being quietly reminded

of the questions without answers.

Slowly, a secretion, a milk

thinly insulates, protects

the kernel of doubt.

Joys and fears

competing, clamoring

are hushed behind the milky veil.

Wrapped in a smooth blanket

becoming truth

hard and immutable,

these pearls

are collected on strings.

But who will wear them,

and who will remember

the grain, the irritant,

or the question?

Reviews

[Gray C. Sweet]

That's sort of a beautiful metaphysical question, asking what all of our individual pearls of belief add up to. I also love the description of the pearl forming, and the fact that you never use the word clam, but it's clear what you're referring to, and you are focused on the metaphor throughout the entire poem.
It's a strong metaphor as well; our beliefs and habits truly are formed by trying to soothe our irritants. You've gotta log back on, dude. I'd love to hear what you've written lately

[Gray C. Sweet]

On third read, I can see this as maybe a critique of beliefs that are ingrained (pun intended) in us in childhood. Religion, for example, can be an irritant itself, and all of our cherry-picking and excuses around religion could be represented by the milk, soothing the edges of something that isn't necessarily good for us.
Seriously man, you should come back