honored ancestors
subtle-responsive mysterious-profound
knowledgeable beyond our grasp
deep into our loss
we can only describe and build upon
watchful crossing a stream on winter stones
alert to danger lurking near
courteous as a guest as a host
yielding like water to ice and steam
receptive as wood to a carver’s tool
hollow like a cave repository
opaque as a pool muddied by cows
who has time for mud to settle
who will wait for action’s moment
watchers of Tao receive enough
ready for change not swayed by its desire