Do not seek solace in shared identity.
For divisions have no minimum.
Do not entangle your plight with others,
Only you can know yourself.
Your happiness must come from within.
Or Where will your labor end?
Keep your burdens small.
Water spread too thin will only dry
Seek the balanced growth.
Know when to end your struggles.
Keep your ego subdued.
Without grounding one cannot bloom.
Seek the happiness you can,
Know your place within the world.
Cast your roots deep,
Spread your branches wide,
And others will find wisdom in the shade.
The wise man knows these truths.
And expects others to follow them as he does.
The Master is not so naive,
He knows that teaching only fosters ignorance.
I like how this poem talks about many aspects of the Tao, such as having balance or not having a big ego.
ReplyDeleteI like your use of oxymorons when you say that teaching fosters ignorance.
ReplyDeleteThis poem is obviously inspired by the Taoist poetry we examined in class and as homework. It includes many of the same themes as those poems and sums up the ideas of Taoism nicely.
ReplyDeleteYou have a great use of imagery and wisdom in your poem that really gives it the aura of a Taoist poem.
ReplyDelete