Tao Te Ching
Seven Eyes Seven Legs
One can see mystery
the center a tiny mystic
it is like a veil barely seen
a world so full of beauty
hidden deep but ever present
there were no shadows
it is the space within
the world before this one
the more it moves the more it yields
wizards had great power in the land
creating yet not possessing
they dream their summer dreams
washing and cleansing the primal vision
as prayers to appease the ghost lands
holding fast to the center
that we live in
knowing harmony is constancy
great care must be taken
precious things lead one astray
then all the ghosts set the rules
if nothing is done then all will be well
then all the people are happy
the truth often sounds paradoxical
things are not always as they seem
do not be concerned with a loss or gain
certain life is silent waiting
but who can remain still until the moment of action
I sit and beat the drum
and move with the present
as wild birds cry against the broken sky
as the sage stays behind
very strong is his medicine
am I a fool — but yes I am confused
some events can be both wonderful and terrifying
but knowing constancy the mind is open
to lives long enough to come in two parts
the highest good is when
joyfully dancing out of the earth
wisdom and intelligence are born
before the sun goes down and darkness comes
set things in order before all is confusion
I know that this is true
*
rob kistner © 2023
Poetry at: dVerse
*NOTE: It has come to my attention that there are those who dispute the authenticity of Gerard Tsonakwa’s and Yolaikia Wapitaska’s claim to be Abenaki. This piece I wrote does not intend to sort out that controversy. Unaware, I simply used their book to choose 21 random lines as part of this prompt. I found the following video to be most interesting and informative, so I share it with you. It touches on an issue we should all be aware of. I admit, I was not. Having been adopted, and not knowing my actual personal heritage for 75 years — I felt compelled to share this. So let my post here serve to not only continue to call attention to our threatened environment, but also to raise awareness in this regard. Thank you.
I love it!
My favorite line: as wild birds cry against the broken sky
???????
Thank you Melissa… 🙂
this is a sensational rendition of the two books not least the way you broke it up into stanzas and sometimes one liners. It ends so well too – a great choice Rob
Thank you so much Laura. This was challenging, but enjoyable to create. 🙂
Seamless and so very deep, Rob! I don’t know these books, but am drawn to them after reading your poem. I love the thought of those powerful wizards dreaming ‘their summer dreams / washing and cleansing the primal vision / as prayers to appease the ghost lands’ and the lines:
‘the highest good is when
joyfully dancing out of the earth
wisdom and intelligence are born’.
Glad thid resonated with you Kim. The Tao Te Ching goes back to the days of Confucius. Lao Tsu was his student. The other book is supposed to be stories shared by the original peoples of North America. Whether they are authentically thus, they are fascinating.
Your patchwork look beautiful, Rob <3 Great juxtapositions
Thank you Jay… 🙂
This is incredibly deep and poignant, Rob! I love the seamless manner in which you have patchworked the lines together especially; “certain life is silent waiting/but who can remain still until the moment of action.” 🙂
Thank you Sanaa… 🙂
Excellent, that conclusion really works so well as a metaphor…
Thank you so much Björn I appreciate the compliment my friend…