My friend and I sat by the fire; stars shot as pipes were lit
Between his smoky puffs, he mumbled gruffly, bit by bit:

“The question of life’s point is my obsession’s point and quest
Until I git some answers, I ain’t never gonna rest

“Jus’ listen to these, um, conundrums posed by my old prof
Who taught, you see, Socraticly”, he croaked out with a cough (1)

“Is freedom the ability to chase each whim and pleasure?
Or the pow’r to choose the highest good; to serve folks without measure?

“What IS the ultimate adventure life here holds on offer?
Pursuing that which fills the heart, or filling up some coffer?

“Is life a rush for pow’r and stuff; to roll up in a Rolls?
Or a battleground deciding the eternal fate of souls?

“Is happiness found only in this world’s short-lived attractions?
Or is it got in finding “God” through heavn’ly goals and actions?

“And speaking of real happiness, please pass the wiener tray
Let’s gather wood, collect our thoughts, and get more ‘skeeter spray!”

Before I had a chance to comment on single question
He blurted our some more! as stomachs whined their indigestion

“Is suff’ring, pain, etcet’ra, to be fled as from a storm?
Or chances to prove love and care; for vices to reform?

“Did ancestors pass down to us real wisdom and true morals?
Or stifl’ng social norms to toss because they stir up quarrels?

“What’s wrong with this old world? Is it some creed, or Cretan ruler?
Or ‘worldly’ ways, like greed; or one whom Christ called mankind’s Fooler?(2)

“Is ‘sin’ some sad delusion, ‘long with heaven, hell, and grace?
Or a choice to break the laws of love that God gave to our race?”

Amidst his doubt, a loon cried out; he paused, and plucked his beard
I tried not nod, but he was not yet finished, as I feared

“Is life, to quote Macbeth, a fool’s tale of ‘sound and fury’?
Or will our tales- and heads- be judged by God, without a jury?

“One thing’s fer sure in pond’rin’ hard on all these either/or’s
Both/and’s would be absurd! Agree? Hey, pass the stuff fer s’more’s!”

But since I’d entered La-La Land, his words went quite unheeded

He scanned the sky; asked for a sign; with smold’ring hope, he pleaded

Then quickly, without cause, from smold’ring coals the flames resumed

And heaven’s stars, with Heaven’s grace

His gaze

And heart

Consumed

********

(1) Socrates, and Jesus, taught students by asking them questions

(2) “Father of Lies” (John 8:44)