What is

What is life, my friend? 

What does it mean?

What does it give?

What does it take? 

Is it gift or treasure?

Is it responsibility or load?

Is it fate or destiny?

Is it for only for you or me?

How do we treasure it?

How can we protect it?

Where can it take us?

Why should we care? 

Is there a quote that explains?

Is there a phrase that comforts? 

What is life, my friend? 

What does it mean?

Reviews

[R J Askew]

Hmmm, I don't have an answer to any of those questions. I can't recall thinking to hard about them either. I don't know if that is a good thing or a bad thing. I've never worried about them, which does make me wonder if I am actually alive! Maybe I'm scared of the questions, or lazy in the face of them, or in denial. i don't know. Could it be there are as many answers as there are people alive, that none of us ever know, so don't ask? I don't know. Maybe I'll wake up one day and realised I've completely missed the point of it all, life, or not. I think the questions make me defensive, maybe.

[emmajoygreen]

Each of us has a path to walk and perhaps a chosen destination. Freedom to be allows variations. To feel as you do is a given to a free man - or woman. All I can add is that we live in a world with others and to be as happy and content we should at least TRY to accept isolation as a judgement of self, set by self. Maybe think that seventy five percent of questions are friendly.. 'Doing unto others in our vast planet is a helping hand.. perhaps. Smile at your tomorrow, sir.

[Mauricio Montoya]

Emma hard to say because it involves two but I do believe its compromise to be one.

[emmajoygreen]

What a wise man you are.. live one's life allowing others to chose theirs.. Stand back, stand tall in youjr own life and pray that others do the same. Take care of you, sir Mauricio.

[Mauricio Montoya]

Its an excellent write , I think wisdom comes from you

[emmajoygreen]

Sending you a smile, sir. Take care of yourself.

[Mysilentembrace]

The existential dread of the questions as we ponder this life, its purpose, and possibly if we care its meaning. This just felt heavier with each set of questions. Questions that I’ve spent so many months and years pondering to extinction until no answers but my own assumptions may be found. I do so enjoy how philosophical this is.

[emmajoygreen]

Perhaps - only perhaps, we need to learn other's questions in order to learn what our own answers should be, could be. This would make a fine debate, if people dare! Many thanks for visiting.

[Neville]

the meaning is in the answer .. to be experienced or lived, respected, recounted and then writ about .. it is a circle of meaning .. the cycle or circle of itself .. that is Ouroboros .. Neville

[emmajoygreen]

It is the circle of meaning; an eternity that take Man into a limitless place of anything is yours - if you deserve it. If not, grow hope as you would grow a tree an' look forward to the gifts it offers but in return you can or might exchange. Wisdom exchanged, lessons learned, space available if you know how to fly.

[emmajoygreen]

OOps. forgive, forgot to thank you for calling in to add a few stitches to the embroidery

[Aura]

"what is life?" It is such an age-old question that no one truly knows the answer to. Why? It really depends on who you ask, because everyone has a different perspective on what life is, and what it means for them. Its such a deep question, and makes for a thoughtful poem. Thank you so much for sharing this poem, I enjoyed reading it, and pondering the question, What is Life?

[emmajoygreen]

Even poets ask people to think - even if on a bad day or on a wonderfuly fine day. Questions search for answers, don't you think?

[Laz K.]

i suppose the question is rhetorical, and it would be idiotic to try and answer it, so i'll just give you a thumb up for asking the question. :)

[emmajoygreen]

Your thumb up is as near as a compliment I've had for ages, Laz K - many thanks. As to questions, have a list as long as space, sir.

[Davidgeo]

"the same thing stares through different eyes"

we do our best to pretend otherwise... but none of us are very different from the other.

[emmajoygreen]

Many thanks.. could be - is, sir.

[Davidgeo]

I gather you have learned how to deal with personality disordered people. Good work. This will benefit you in how you deal with people in general for the rest of your life.

[Davidgeo]

madame......

[emmajoygreen]

Years into my life was told and shown that 'doing unto others as you would have them do unto you' is sharing kindness, respect and - an occasional smile.

[Gregoria Ahmed]

Beautifully framed as a dialogue, and I felt myself answering each line in my own way. That’s the mark of a poem that meets readers exactly where they are. Each question peeling back a layer of being. It doesn’t seek answers so much as it dares us to ask with honesty.

[emmajoygreen]

I hadn't thought of that, Gregori. If that's the case, will hope to solve the invisible even more in the future! Many thanks for visiting. :)

[Gregoria Ahmed]

Thank you, Emma. I’ll be watching for how your voice keeps growing--one question at a time. 🫶

[emmajoygreen]

Bless you.

[emmajoygreen]

Forgive, I didn't give your name an 'A', Gregoria. Wishing you a happy, happy day.

[Gregoria Ahmed]

No worries on the forgotten letter “A” 😁, but wishing the same happiness for you 🙏🧡💛

[emmajoygreen]

Kind and thoughtful you - thank you, GregoriA!

[John the Baptist]

An interesting question here, on both the literary and philosophical levels. In fact, the poem is composed entirely of questions. Zorba the Greek said it's what you do while you're waiting to die. I'd prefer something a little less basic. I see life as the expression of Being. So I guess the next question is What is Being?

[emmajoygreen]

Breathing, slowly aging, learning, attempting, enjoying, discriminating, achieving, losing, suffering, etcetera sans cease!

Anyone who focusses on waiting to die has already started the process before living!

[emmajoygreen]

What is being? Tis waiting at dawn, living each day, questing, understanding, forgetting, suffering, living ad infinitum. Best said: Everything is Being

[Betty Hermelee]

Dear Em...life is what you make it...how you sleep, how you dream, how you love, how you disguise,how you learn, how you breathe.....it's difficult to explain because each of us is unique and we look at life in different ways....For some life is a gift and for others who suffer life is miserable....I like your question!!!
a good debate!!
HUGS
B

[emmajoygreen]

As we generally post as individuals, I thought it might be interesting to see how things go if we joined together occasionly, maybe gently fueling a sense of say what we think in group or groups. Will see if it happens or needs remain with groups. MANY thanks for your generous understanding and response. HUGS to you too. :)