The Labyrinth

Inspired by the John Green novel "Looking for Alaska". One line gives birth to... Whatever you want to call this thing. Damn it, how will I ever get out of this labyrinth?

Damn it, how will I ever get out of this labyrinth?

this twisting road of dead ends and disappointment

of suffering and anger, of maybes and Great Perhaps's

We are born into this labyrinth of insufferable human existence

and it is here that most will die

Some by their own doing, most by the inevitability of one too many dead ends

From the womb we are thrust into this world

At first taking baby steps into the great, wonderful unknown

We learn that suffering is a part of life, a form of discipline, and a means to a better end

From spankings to vaccinations

From awkward moments to embarrassing events

That shape our lives, and to each their own dead end in the labyrinth

From first love’s kiss to love’s last embrace

There will always be a dead end

But as humans, both physical and emotional beings

We never stop looking for the way out

We never stop believing that one day we will find the answer to suffering

Many have achieved this goal through religion, belief and faith

Buddhists achieve nirvana, Hindus are reincarnated, Christians reach heaven

But do they really?

Perhaps this utter devotion to a God is just another dead end

Perhaps nirvana is simply a state of ignorance or inadvertence, another dead end

With every dead end, and every attempt at breaching the labyrinth failing

With every answer another question, with every easement another sorrow

Is there a point to living at all?

Why should one bother wandering aimlessly amongst this labyrinth?

The fog of humanity, in all its despair and joy, its mortality and frailty

If there is no plausible way to get out of the labyrinth, why not simply create an answer

Why not simply end your own struggle

Straight and fast, straight and fast

Fast enough to break through this unforgiving life that is the labyrinth

Because we are human

Within this labyrinth we are not alone

Our lives are mingled and intertwined within one another in an endless sea of humanity

Our hopes and dreams, our despair and our joys are felt by not only us

We are not alone in our suffering

We never have been

We never will be

Within the confines of this labyrinth there is hope

There is faith that an answer will be found

And that glimmer, that shard of light that protrudes from the solidarity of the labyrinth

Is all anyone needs

We will never stop looking for an answer

We will not break down

We will not give up

And we will never, ever stop

Looking For Alaska