That Central Thing; or, A Philosophy of the Nautilus

What is it
that passes through
the chambers
of the Nautilus;

what holds it all
as one and brings
the "each and every"
into the disparate

compartments of being.

Is it a membrane
or an ethereal soul
that joins the
"each and every"
of the portions of
the one.

The first is held by
the last and the
middle is fed by the
beginning and the end.

Its very local-nature
is non-local by design;
the "this" is held by the "that"
and the other by the
"that" as well.

It is an icon of
the "I and Thou"
wrapped up in a shell.

What is it

that passes through

the chambers

of the Nautilus;

and like our own

being, is it a fleshy chord

that ties the whole 

thing into oneness 

or a specter - a spirit -

that gives the thing

its core - its life.

Or, is that membrane

soul.  Is that strand

a lifeline outside the shell

into the ALL of our very

breath. 

This tiny shell

a part of the whole.

The membrane a 

simple stairway to 

heaven.

Or, is a shell

a shell, and I have

simply had

too much espresso.

Ciao!

tjm+