Emptiness knows not any foe
it has neither frontier nor door

What sort of life is it

if you've never lived

in disbelief?

Those who love
can do more wrong
than those
who have never loved

If you espouse
these two tiny words
'not yet'
you'll not regret
and some day
be richly rewarded-

sadly
most cant' wait
diving into that
of which
they aren't prepared-
the damage
has been done
and there's no turning back-

all great things are wrought
from diligence and patience
no plant or flower
can overnight flourish

this simple philosophy
of 'not yet'
I've for all past years
faithfully  followed-
it has failed me never
nor caused me any regret

I prefer to be
  just a tiny piece of stone
  not a proud rock-
  I'll be hidden and unknown

even the wildest storm
or the torrential rain will harm me not
I lie safely under the tree's shelter
until the sunshine is wrought-

above me sweetest flowers blow
birds chirp cheerfully from dusk to dawn
moonbeams through the leaves bring me cheer
ere the hours of night are gone-

I'm unnoticed when you walk by
no harsh word will you speak to me
how blessed it is to be what I am-
truly joyful and eternally free!

A genuine need

is never greed

West:  Hold tight
Zen and Taoism:  Loosen up.

West:  Forge ahead!
Zen and Taoism:  Step back.