Lao Poems - Poems about Lao

LAO TZU ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS IV The Roots of Turbulence by Lao Tzu, translation by Michael R. Burch Heaviness lies at the root of lightness; stillness begets turbulence. Thus the nobleman heads his caravan keeping a constant eye on his possession-laden wagons. At night he sleeps secure behind high-walled towers, undaunted and untroubled. But how can the ruler of ten thousand chariots discard the people so...

Continue reading...

LAO TZU ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS III The Valley Spirit by Lao Tzu, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch The valley Spirit never runs dry, the river to whom all waters run: the Spirit of our Primal Mother. Deeply rooting Heaven and Earth, to most eyes a delicate veil dimly seen, yet a never-failing Fountainhead. Adhere to the Feminine by Lao Tzu, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R....

Continue reading...

LAO TZU ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS I Be Like Water by Lao Tzu, translation by Michael R. Burch The highest virtue resembles water because water unselfishly benefits all life, then settles, without contention or needless strife, in lowly cisterns. Weep for the Dead by Lao Tzu, translation by Michael R. Burch When seeing mounds of the dead the virtuous weep for the loss of life. When one is...

Continue reading...

LAO TZU ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS I An unbending tree breaks easily. —Lao Tzu, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Nothing is weaker or gentler than water, yet nothing can prevail against it. —Lao Tzu, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch That the yielding overcomes the resistant is known by all men yet utilized by none. —Lao Tzu, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Why does the...

Continue reading...

As you know by now…if you read my poems from time to time when it comes to putting my thoughts and words together… I am partial to the rhyme. (It’s how I start my day) But today’s blessing does not rhyme…and I hope you think I’m right when I say Lao Tzu’s wisdom and his prose are more beautiful… than any...

Continue reading...

("Bristlecone", 2016, original pen and ink) Samsara Beneath the titillation of Samsara the veneer of morality waits. Or is it the opposite? Beneath the veneer of morality the titillation of Samsara awaits. Either way, it’s the same thing, the whole damn mess being one giant game of seduction. But that sucking sound at the heart of seduction…. pulling us in to a void that's impossible to avoid the force...

Continue reading...

People feel something lacking at their core and worry they are nobody, living meaningless lives. Depressives dwell on this existential dread (susceptible then to projecting it outward in paranoid fantasies of climate change, gender dysphoria, and political turmoil), the less privileged just accept it as the nature of life, the nature of all things. It all comes down to how big...

Continue reading...

Home is where the heart is Two eyes looking back at me In your presence and embrace The safest place I’ve ever been The place I’d like to stay Constant laughter Complete vulnerability of just being, me I think this is perfectly how it should be We fit And I can’t help but feel Like this is home And everywhere I’ve never been You...

Continue reading...

We meet on the road But once and I cannot tell you In the time we have: "We are one." "What's left, what survived, what remains Of old dreams, old wars, old loves." We share atomic lives: Small, brief, unpredictable orbits, Curious flurries of motion and smiles. Who you become after...

Continue reading...