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Lacuna

Lacuna in Doosodarian literature

A lacuna (plural: lacunae) is a gap or empty space in a manuscript, inscription, poem, painting, or musical work.

The ancient Doosodarians were known for their poetry that contained lacunae which sometimes measured several days in length. During this pause, the poet and audience are encouraged to acknowledge the "emptiness" of the experience. The Doosodarians believed that while the poem may be blank, the emptiness had a poetic meaning, so it could not be considered "nothing" as such.

In 2370, Commander Data attempted to experience the poetic meaning of a lacuna by staring at a blank computer display for forty-seven minutes. (TNG: "Interface")

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