The Meaning Of Things Poem by Nazmul Haque

The meaning is never in the thing in itself;
it always comes from the beyond.

You can watch a seed,
in itself it is meaningless
unless it sprouts.
Once it sprouts it becomes meaningful.
The tree is the meaning for the seed.

Now the seed exists for a certain reason.
Its existence is not accidental,
it is meaningful.
It has to give birth,
it has to create something;
something that is beyond it,
something that is bigger than it,
something that is more comprehensive.

But then, what is the meaning of the tree in itself?
Again meaning disappears unless
the tree can flower.
The meaning of the tree is in the flowering.
When it flowers,
yes, there is meaning:
the tree has become a mother,
the tree has given birth,
the tree has become significant.

It was not there without any purpose;
the flower is the proof.
It was there meaningfully,
it was there waiting for the flower.

But what is the meaning of the flower in itself
unless the fragrance is released to the winds?
Once the fragrance is released
the flower is meaningful.

The meaning is never in the thing in itself;
it always comes from the beyond.