Ohio Impromptu

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Theme



Ritualistically reading an autobiographical account of personal loss and torment merely perpetuates the pain of human existence. Memory evokes no present comfort. Neither physical nor mental isolation from the record of spent existence can assuage the terror of purposeless living. Nor can the present pain of human existence be lessened by distancing the first person narrative through any third person narration. The inescapable pain endures. The destitution of the human condition persists. ‘From time to time’ the comfortless words have again been read and listened to until finally, ‘nothing is left to tell’.

The autobiographical monologue ended, nothing meaningful characterises any continuing existence. When ‘nothing is left to tell’, nothing is left. No words remain either to be read or heard. For both Reader and Listener, nothingness is all that characterises what remains of their former or present existence. They are left, in the present, ‘as though turned to stone’, staring straight at each other, ‘unblinking’ and ‘expressionless’. The rest is silence.