Introduction
In this piece of work we see the author tackling the issue of consciousness and the impermanence of existence. The author of the poem being a catholic uses the scripture to justify how this has affected his upbringing. Golden eternity is used paradoxically to mean the existence of everything and nothing at the same time. The author through this classical poem tries to meditate his beautiful quest for peace love and join which is brought in oneness by the universe. When one reads the poem it cuts the mystic hearts of all paths. It transcends rational thought and the author uses geometric symbols in the scriptures. He finds insight in the creatures for example the cats and butterfly. This poem and the scriptures give out universal flavor as the author uses multicultural constellation.
Styles used in poem
He uses rhyme in his work to show his frustration in his daily life. Though he attempted to lead a life there was no better results but suffering. Though in turning to drink he found solace that when he was spiritual. When drunk in deed the poem take as to different tone altogether. For example The earth is one,not Two’I saidIn the moonlitAll this is influenced by his intoxication and it is unlike the other part of the text. At this point he shows the audience why he made Buddhism his second priority. What he gave first priority was alcohol because he felt blissful while drunk.
He uses dialogue to relate to the audience through use of Christian background which is revealed throughout the piece of work. He generates a magical language which sounds like gibberish to the outsider. He talks of twilight speech making this upside down language of paradoxes and contradictions. The Buddhist scripture used by the author is redolent and filled with contraries. In the second paragraph the author is blissful and at peace with the realization he has made. His mood is upbeat because of the drugs, drinking and the family he has. For example
The awakened Buddha to show the way, thechosen Messiah to die in the degradationof sentience, is the golden eternity.
He further offers the meditation about emptiness he placed a lot of emphasis on the golden eternity. He paradoxically uses the aspect of time and there is a big difference with other part of the poem because time is always in the present. Time is much about the future but to him everything was already attained. He uses blissful and golden tone is important is an experience of his awakening. While unconscious he still has hopes because upon waking he finds that everything is alright (Muggeridge 1). For example
During that timeless moment of unconsciousness I saw the golden eternity. I saw heaven.
The awakening that arises with fainting spell affects the author and this leads to his change of outlook and it is similar to the outcome of near death experience. There is imagery when he reflects his experience under Bodhi tree of when he was Buddhism. This experience only shows how time collapses and the present is what matters to the author. The only thing that took shape in his sutra and could influence his daily life was the present. Most of the times he used suspense to confuse the listener for example he claimed to want to continue being a Buddhist and advised others to follow it yet in the real sense he could not endure the strict monastic way of living. What the author wanted to do was to bring Buddhism into the consciousness of the North Americans (Gach 14 Para 7).
He uses dashes in his work for the reader to get advance visual warning of the impending end of sentence. He further sues dashes as markers of breath. The poem is very original. For example
Why did he make himself into a Womb of Exuberant Fertility?
This are some of the rhetorical questions he asks to show how he was tired of the religion and it was assign of release to him. He shows how Buddhism has led to his suffering and anguish in his lifestyle. In order to express himself he struggles to explain what mattered to him and what is real. He used literature and prose when narrating his work .the audience was also a part of his narration as he ensured that they were always involved through asking rhetorical questions. He uses similes to describe the human nature of people. For example because we are like the golden eternityhe further uses personification when he refers to the milky light fills being blind. He applies nostalgic mood as he wishes to see heaven some day. He states that he saw heaven and the golden eternity (Kerouac 15).
Summary
There are so many other things the author is longing for like the past life he never enjoyed and he regrets being a Buddhist in the past. The story is full of styles which make the reader more interested and not to be bored .he involves the reader through any step he takes and this adds flavor to his piece of work. Generally after reading this poem I am inspired and have learnt a lot. The poem has been reliable guidance and a source of light to people s being. Readers have been inspired to live with wisdom until the yearning itself dies. Those who are troubled can read the poem and it will clear their mind and simultaneously expand their consciousness. Through it people have come to terms with life and its meaning. The memory of the author will remain in the minds of the student and other reader’s even years after his death. Through reading poem and other works of literature there is a lot of experience we get which help us to deal with daily life circumstances.
Works cited
Gach, Gary. What Book!?: Buddha Poems from Beat to Hiphop. Berkeley, Calif: Parallax Press, 1998. Print.
Kerouac, Jack. Scripture Of The Golden Eternity / By Jack Kerouac ; With Introductions By Anne Waldman And Eric Mottram. n.p.: San Francisco : City Lights, c1994., 1994.
Muggeridge, Malcolm, Nicholas Flynn, and Teresa. Time And Eternity : Uncollected Writings. London: Darton, Longman and Todd, 2010.
