I walked slowly up the mountain
We had almost reached the peak

I was asked by some sunburned young man,
"How are you doing?"

He seemed concerned
"Fine, I answered."

I smiled and walked on

The man of tao appears dull

Wandering idly up the mountain
I exist in nature

Maybe he was like the other young men
And foreigners his age
They were there to "conquer the mountain"

This is earth
It will be here
Long after you are gone

The Chinese painting
Shows man in nature
He is in the background

I was in no hurry
To get to the top
Maybe this confused the man

He was sunburned
He should have worn sun screen name

He cannot comprehend stillness
Stillness and tranquility
He did not understand dullness
And the wandering man on the mountain

He does not understand non-striving

I did not bother asking
How he was
I did not care

I simply answered, "fine"
And walked on

I wish him well
Please, next time wear sunscreen
You do not understand the Tao