But even them, my pains, I understand ill. That must come from my not being all pain and nothing else. There's the rub. Then they recede, or I, till they fill me with amaze and wonder, seen from a better planet. Not often, but I ask no more. Catch-cony life! To be nothing but pain, how that would simplify matters! Omnidolent! Impious dream.
In this reflection, the narrator grapples with the complexities of experiencing pain. They realize that their suffering is not a defining characteristic; it coexists with other aspects of existence. This understanding leads them to a contemplative state where pain transforms, sometimes appearing as a distant phenomenon rather than an all-consuming force. This perspective offers moments of clarity, evoking both amazement and wonder, as if viewed from a higher realm of understanding.
The narrator also muses on the idea of life being solely pain, suggesting that such a condition would simplify existence. However, they recognize this notion as an unrealistic and impious fantasy. Life, filled with various experiences beyond just suffering, adds depth and complexity to being, highlighting the necessity of pain's coexistence with other emotions and sensations.
