Three treasures

In the world all call me great,

I resemble the unseeming.

Now only one is great

because one resembles the unseeming.

If one were unseeming,

how long would be, indeed,

his mediocrity.

Now, I have three treasures.

I preserve and treasure them.

The first is called compassion.

The second is called economy.

The third is called not daring 

to be in the world's foremost compassionate,

therefore he can be brave.

economical, therefore he can be generous.

not dares to be in the world's foremost,

therefore he can be perfected as vessels of profit.

Now if discard compassion and are brave,

they discard economy and are generous,

they discard being behind and go to the front,

they will die indeed.

However they are compassionate, 

thereby in battles then they will conquer.

Thereby in the defence then they will be firm.

Heaven, when about to help them,

with compassion will protect them.

 

Consider the beginning

"Consider the beginning"

Do not overlook no-action, the flavourless, the small, the simple, the easy, for these are paths to the great and peace.

one's self

sometimes only i see

sometimes only i know

no excuse

no explanation

let it be

between it and it

 

"Truly, we live with mysteries ...."

Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous


to be understood.



How grass can be nourishing in the


mouths of the lambs.


How rivers and stones are forever


in allegiance with gravity


while we ourselves dream of rising.


How two hands touch and the bonds


will never be broken.


How people come, from delight or the


scars of damage,


to the comfort of a poem.



Let me keep my distance, always, from those


who think they have the answers.



Let me keep company always with those who say


"Look!" and laugh in astonishment,

and bow their heads.


Mary Oliver