My angel, oh my angel, perhaps our whole earthly existence is now but a pun to you, or a grotesque rhyme, something like "dental" and "transcendental" {remember?}, and the true meaning of reality, of that piercing term, purged of all our strange, dreamy, masquerade interpretations, now sounds so pure and sweet that you, angel, find it amusing that we could have taken the dream so seriously {although you and I did have an inkling of why everything disintegrated at one furtive touch-- words, conventions of everyday life, systems, persons-- so, you know, I think laughter is some chance little ape of truth astray in our world.
This quote reflects on the nature of human existence, suggesting that our lives may seem like a mere joke or absurdity to a higher being, perhaps an angel. It likens the complexities of reality to a distorted rhyme, highlighting the contrast between our perceptions and a more profound, underlying truth. The speaker muses that the purity of true reality could be amusing to the angel, who observes how earnestly humans engage in their dreams and interpretations of life.
Furthermore, the quote suggests that despite the dreamlike nature of our existence, there exists an awareness of its fragility. The mention of “laughing” as a possible glimpse of truth implies that humor may serve as a reminder of the absurdities surrounding us. The speaker acknowledges a shared understanding that the foundations of life—words, societal norms, and relationships—can easily crumble under scrutiny. This meditation unveils a complex interplay between reality and perception, imbuing laughter with a deeper significance.