The Seven Seals of Eternal Return — Thus Spoke Zarathustra

Zarathustra sings seven short poems, each one a seal of yes to life. In each verse he looks back on something he has done: breaking old graves and moral tablets, creating with lightning, mixing joy and sorrow in one bowl, sailing toward the unknown, dancing through heavy things, and rising on his own wings above words that lie to the light.

Each verse builds toward the same question: how could he not love eternity and the ring of return? He says he has never found a woman he would want children with, except Eternity herself. This is not escape from life. It is a marriage vow to existence, a promise to take the whole package, not only the easy parts. Even ruined churches and buried gods can be loved if the sky shines through.

The refrain rings out again and again: For I love thee, O Eternity! He is not asking whether life was worth living once. He is asking whether it is so meaningful he would choose it without end, exactly as it was. That is the hardest yes a person can give, and he gives it with full voice. Storm, dance, and laughter all point to the same vow beneath the words.