A Philosophy of Endings

A Philosophy of Endings

A moment ends
    And if it didn't
        We'd be locked inside
            With no way out

A moment ends
    And that's what lets
        Us make
            Something new

Beauty and meaning
    Only illuminate
        Moments that end
            If you cling
                You block the flow

A trip, our youth, or middle age
    We only get to do it once
        We have to admit, at the end
            It was difficult, painful, beautiful
                It helped us see
                    Reality better
                        Yes, we made mistakes
                            Our art wasn't perfect
                                It was enough

Don't keep painting and repainting the painting
    Let go, let go, let go
        Then the work can spread 
            To others' minds and hearts
                If you don't end it
                    You don't let it affect others

The banana leaf today
    Has unfurled
        Yesterday, it was a green tube
            Nature is born, blossoms, withers
                Like us

My first third of life is over
    That painting is done
        I'm painting the middle third now
            I hope that's true

We don't get infinite moments
    We don't have a never-ending canvas supply
        That's what makes each painting
            Beautiful and dear
                Even if it's misshapen and ugly

Our shared ruin 
    Makes our moments holy
        Scarcity keeps the days 
            From blending together
                Endings wake us up

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This poem was inspired by the book We Spread