Laotse and Chuangtse
All nature palpitates with life, more true
When life has died. Philosophy might try
To be as true. Religions have their pew
In nature’s temples, roofs a higher sky
In thought and feeling. Mind’s mysticisms
Fail, though, when man’s emotion or his thought
Attempts to pass lights through holy prisms
Instead of letting oak trees be. They ought
To be allowed to be themselves, no fuss,
No fuzzy feelings, and no Plato mess.
We do not need to add a Plato plus
Sign, Taosism, no. The oaks confess
Trough acorns pulsing revelation all
We need to know, in every acorn’s fall.
~ Phillip Whidden