This Quintessence of Dust explained (sort of)

I usually consider this the best poem I've ever written. No particular reason, 
I just respect it. I can't say that about all of them, or even half.

The title comes from the passage in Hamlet where the main character is in 
the graveyard, talking about humanity. I can't recall if he's talking to the skull 
yet, but it's definitely after he's gone mad/ regained sanity (depending on 
your perspective). The words basically mean "human life," though there are 
other possible interpretations.

For images, I was basically thinking of two: first, the Hanged Man in most 
Tarot decks, a card which I like very much (as long as people aren't silly 
enough to make the guy dead, because that is *not* the point). I can't tell you 
all the meanings other people associate with the card, but I see it as a 
sacrifice in order to gain wisdom or greater understanding. One has to give 
up the things one clings to if one is to grow, so to speak.

In that same theme, there is a Nordic myth involving Odin, the Father of the 
Gods. In order to gain the runes, Odin hung upside down on a branch of the 
world-tree, Yggdrasil, for 9 days. On the night of the ninth day, he saw the 
runes in a puddle beneath him and snatched them up just before he fell. The 
runes are not just writing- each one has mystical significance and is 
associated with different types of power. In a way, Odin made a sacrifice 
for these wisdoms. I've always wondered how closely this story was related 
to the reinvented Tarot of our times.

(If I have made any errors in recounting this tale, please correct me. I read it 
about 10 years ago, and haven't seen it again since, so I beg your forgiveness 
if it's wrong.)

I must add that I owe many thanks (and maybe even some chocolate, if she 
hasn't eaten it all) to Bina for dealing with me in the aftermath of the inspiration 
for this one. She sent me to bed, only to have me reappear half an hour later 
with an illedgible, scribbled mess that she then very patiently helped me 
transform into a real poem. She was also nice enough to remind me of meter 
when I got carried away ^_^. Arigatou, atashi no editor-chan.

I also owe thanks to Sarah for putting up with the two of us doing this in her 
room at 2 in the morning. My snowflake puts up with an awful lot.