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

[LisaCarol]

The timing of this writing is very surreal for me. I just received news this morning of a former coworker’s passing. He had cancer and was only 58. The news and this poem both remind me I am responsible for living my best life. Thank you for sharing your writing my friend.

[emmajoygreen]

How very sad, so sorry.. Could say more about what he was going through but your sadness would still be there in your gentle and generous heart, dear friend. Every day is precious, every second even more so. Hug.

[Weeping willow]

I use to love waking up in the afternoon and still hear the birds singing in our trees. Even inside the darkest tunnels of depression light comes to show life is sacred in all things. Life is just life to be lived as best you can. ;-] Loved your words

[emmajoygreen]

Many thank yous, Weeping willow (my favourite tree!), especially because we think and believe the same. The sound of birds singing in such majestic surroundings are Nature's gift, the Lord's
gift, how honoured we are. Yes?!

[Lorry]

All of the above would be my best guess. It can be all of those things at some point or other, depending on everyone's circumstances, but one answer keeps flashing in my eyes a neon signal of how we treasure and protect it is to live it, to experience its all'ness, good and bad.
We can all be keyboard philosophers when we're sitting in a nice and comfy padded chair, but until those two cheeks leave their comfort zone and go and live life to the fullest, with the possible exception of a few things like taking a hot air balloon ride over an active volcano or swimming in the sea where everything that lives there wants to kill you, or going on holiday in Scotland without a waterproof romper suit!
I'm sure I've missed a few off the list, but I reckon it covers most of it and you could always add "if you can't be good, be lucky" to cover the rest!
😃

[emmajoygreen]

'live life to the fullest, with the possible exception of a few things like taking a hot air balloon ride over an active volcano or swimming in the sea where everything that lives there wants to kill you, or holidaying in Scotland without a waterproof romper suit!' Making the reader smile and laugh at the same time as reminding her or a very important lesson is a gift spreading through this never-before-month and onwards ad infinitum! Many thanks, dear sir. :)

[Vol]

EmmaJoy,
In downtown Pensacola, 1968, we discovered an alley to the midnight interior of a city block. We exchanged glances and drove in to see what was there. On the wall to the left was a splotch of rough graffiti, a four inch brush of white paint scrawled WHY? in two foot letters.
Inside the four story cavern were dumpsters, broken furniture, other office detritus and a long metal stairs to a third floor door. I climbed the stairs past two floors to a small landing and looked through the small, eye-level window set in the door. Inside looked like a storage for all kinds of desks and lamps and stuff… as my gaze lifted, I was suddenly confronted with a pair of EYES STARING BACK AT ME!!! Some adrenaline machine gun went off and I was blown to pieces, had a heart attack, and almost fell down the stairs, when I realized that there, about eight foot in, was a tall MIRROR!
It was an existential adventure for sure, and I’ve spent the intervening fifty-odd years in in search of the answer. Even back then I realized the importance it would have in m life and needed to share the insight. I don’t remember how many times I invited friends to smoke some weed, ask them “WHY?” and took them to climb the stairs on dark nights to find out for themselves.
Why, indeed?
Vol
P. S. EmmaJoy, did you ever read V. S. Naipaul’s short story “B. Wordsworth?”

[emmajoygreen]

YESSS!!!! That goes back a while, and, is waiting and waving at me to read again... I will when the tennis is over! Take care, dear sir.. but before you try to sleep, turn all mirrors to the wall.. and then stare at the strange thingies there in their stead!

[Vol]

EmmaJoy,
"Strange thingies," especially when recommended by a beautiful friend, ae a passion of mine...
Vol

[emmajoygreen]

laughing, need rush off but will message here later.. take care, sir. extra hug for the good lady!

[Salvatore]

Such a big question! I could answer that life is an opportunity, a chanche to take your slice of world, to do your best to be remembered.
The questions you wrote are far beyond the most common and banal that are always asked, and more deeper.
Nice poem, short and intense.

[emmajoygreen]

Many thanks for looking in, Salvatore, your words are more than simpatico!

[Michael Sun Bear]

Wow! A very thoughtful examination of the mystery of existence and what it means. I guess it’s up to each of us individually to examine our inner selves and find the answers to the questions you raise. Myself I am very spiritual but I don’t turn to church for those answers. Some of my poetry is spiritual in nature and I have written of some of the answers as I have found them. Anyway, I just woke up, I can hear birds singing as the sun is rising here in Seattle, that is an answer for the moment. Good morning to you!

[emmajoygreen]

There is no better good morning than waking to bird song and - knowing another day is waiting for you! I call our local world 'the all about' - has a sort of spiritual touch but... Here is 13.05 and about to go into the garden with a sandwich and dish of fruit and - listen to bird song with a UK accent! Take care of yourself, sir Sun Bear!