the meaning of life

seeking
enlightenment
you climb
a mountain
to find
the wisest
man in the world
sitting
in a cave
overlooking
the world.
you ask him
what is the
meaning of life.
can you give
me a clue,
some direction
to live by.
you see
in his curled
old hand
a small green
tube. it looks
like a tube
of prell
shampoo.
he's
clutching it
tightly.
you say huh,
which makes
him nod
and smile,
he unfolds
his palm and
he points to
three words
on the back
of the tube.
there it is, he
says. it's
all you need to
know.
rinse and repeat.