Universal, profound, and complex themes that elude simple answers: poetry can become a language through which we venture into these thoughts, in search of meaning—or perhaps serenity in accepting their uncertainty.

The poem The Meaning, from Coffee Stains on My Books, was born from this very need to explore the boundary between life and death. In this message, I wish to share the reflections that inspired these verses and invite each of you to engage with your own understanding of the “meaning” of life and the legacy of those who lived before us.

The Meaning

And so it ends
and all that remains
is the love we leave in the hearts of those who knew us.
The meaning of life is life itself

© Stefania Lucchetti, Coffee Stains On My Books

This poem explores the ephemeral nature of existence: faced with the inevitability of the end, love reveals itself as the only legacy capable of transcending death. It reflects an essentially minimalist vision, inviting us to grasp the sense of life not through tangible achievements or abstract ideals, but in the simple act of living.
Life already contains within itself a complete meaning: every moment fully lived is, in itself, a value – a purpose.

For those who wish to know more about the biographical context, I will share that I wrote these verses after the passing of my grandmother, many years ago.

Another poem (The Heritage) is dedicated to her, and in some passages it echoes the theme of The Meaning.

Indeed, many verses within  Coffee Stains On My Books are bound by an invisible thread, a resonance that weaves through the collection.

You will also find in Coffee Stains On My Books  a poem dedicated to perinatal loss: November.