THE BIG QUESTION

     Though other creatures do, like us, pursue
     apt answers to these fundamental five
     questions of what and where and when and who
     and how; it’s only we of all alive
    
     who have a mind to pose the question why:
     which then defines our quintessential quest
     to find a way to live that’s not awry
     but meaningful—with confidence and zest.
    
     Why are we here?  Why is the universe?
     Why must we suffer as we do, then die?
     Is human life a blessing or a curse?
     Why is it we seem bound to question why?
    
          If we could answer this, we’d end our quest,
          yet with such certainty, we’d lose life’s zest.

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