“It is quite true what philosophy says; that life must be understood backwards. But then one forgets the other principle: that it must be lived forwards. Which principle, the more one thinks it through, ends exactly with the thought that temporal life can never properly be understood precisely because I can at no instant find complete rest in which to adopt a position: backwards.” Soren Kierkegaard, Journals IV A 164 (1843)

Then this place, this direction, this decision, this un-figured-out
That could so easily be given some label.
Life understood backwards but lived forwards? (Kierkegaard says)
Perhaps what can be know now is simply what transpired.
Perhaps the meaning, not yet.

What unfinished can be defined.
What still a part can be seen as the whole.
What that seems so clear now can the courage be found
to instead of label… to wait.

—

All Pieces – Simple View