10,000 Years

For 10,000 years I've pondered the meaning of life or so it seems. Muttering to myself and listening to other human beings. It wasn't found within any ancient book, painting or written on a cave wall. Certainly not in the words of the religious fanatics attacking my humanity. Not through birth or death has this meaning revealed itself. Zen brought only peace to me that an answer may not ever be found. My thoughts raced from beginning to end of time, across the universe I searched. Then one Autumn evening as I lay near sleep a thought fluttered by. Almost lost in the steady stream of imagery flashing within my mind. I quickly dove in swimming through the swirling metaphorical eddy's of thought. I saw it just ahead and grasped hold and saw in an instant the truth. I didn't whither and die as I suspected I might if I found my answer. Rather a peaceful feeling engulfed my all of being and laid me down gentle to rest. I awoke in the morning with this revelation that had come to me. I opened the box that contained the answer to make certain, It was empty. I turned the box inside out, closed and opened it, only to find the same emptiness. How could I have been such a fool to not write down what I had learned. It had been in my hand real as these words I write, only to be lost again. 10,000 years of searching lost in slumber to dreams. As I sat in my somber mood, The answer had been found I posed. Indeed the answer had came and gone but,There was an answer ! There was meaning to life and purpose, perhaps it wasn't meant to be remembered. Perhaps the answer was, "To Not Know" ? RC.