A POEM BY LAO-TZU

We join spokes together in a wheel
But it is the center hole
That makes the wagon move.

We shape clay into a pot
But it is the emptiness inside
That holds whatever we want.

We hammer wood for a house
But it is the inner space
That makes it livable.

We work with being,
But non-being is what we use.


by Lao-Tzu,
creator of the Tao Te Ching,
4th or 6th century B.C.

I live in New York City. There’s a terrific arts program, Poetry in Public Places, that displays the occasional wonderful poem in subway car commercial ad space. When I was still commuting to work I’d find myself scrabbling madly through my purse for a pen and paper so I could take down a poem I would not want to forget about. Fortunately, I take shorthand as many times I’d have only noticed the poem one station before my stop. :-) Yes, I could have just noted the author and poem name, but somehow I always wanted to capture the poem entire. This one above by Lao-Tzu (see "Resource" below) appeared in June of 1999. I have not been in the subways in almost two years and hope this program still exists (could not find out anything on a basic google).

[Image is from fotosearch.com]

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Resource: about Lao Tzu.

‘til next time, keep dreaming,

Roswila
[aka: Patricia Kelly]
****If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or poems, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”)****My other blogs ROSWILA’S TAROT GALLERY & JOURNAL and ROSWILA’S TAIGA TAROT.