Stairway to the Stars (Ron Padgett)

Today's is kind of related to yesterday's poem, I think. Today we've got 'Stairway to the Stars' by Ron Padgett.

The opening bit cracked me up since it is like so much of poetry. The King (or, the writer) makes this grand statement and even though its meaning is shrouded, the audience is still expected to soak it all in question-less. "No one dared ask what it meant.", but the King "seemed satisfied by the beauty" and simply left the confused people behind. Ha, and isn't that replicated a million different ways by a million different authors.

Or even in billions of ways as each person is a King in their own right since we all attempt to share what we find meaningful, but are, at times, unable to do so. Perhaps, sharing viewpoints and thoughts is for naught. Since as this poem says, the King, his life and his thoughts, in the end, all "flew away to a place in history / where nothing mattered."

So then, I guess, why does anyone write anything? Selfishness is my first guess. "Cuz, I want to" This poem may be backing me up with its last line: "And then there was one." If, in the end, all that remains is yourself then doesn't that make you your most important, most ardent fan?

Favorite line: "He seemed satisfied by the beauty / of the logic that had arrived"