Unanswered Questions
Shall you and I
leave everything behind,
Go westward
walking,
Never again be
conscious of the mind,
But walking,
talking
Of flowers and birds
and clouds, with no routine,
Not wonder ever
again what consciousness may mean?
Shall you and I
go eastward in grave thought
And inward
prying,
Be conscious,
introspective, haggard, caught
Sighing and
whying;
With all clear
mind and valuable breath
Expended on cold
doubts about eventual death?
Will you and I,
submitting to the wind,
Go northward
roaring?
That may be one
good way to leave behind
The too trim
harbor mooring:
Partake some
great campaign, some large experience, some
Worthy extensive
excuse for returning glorious home.
Can you and I go southward
without blame
Into the region
we love,
Fading without
desire for famous name,
Or calculated
move?
Can we in
sunlight, both contentedly,
Live without
ambition, gazing at blue sea?
Harold Monro
