Wednesday Poem

The Nut of Knowledge
—Tao te Ching, V. 14

it won’t be seen when you look
won’t be grasped when you reach
won’t be heard when you turn an ear
it’s not bright above nor dark below

seamless and un-namable
it is from and goes to no-thing
the no-form form-source
subtle and without image
preceding conception
passing beyond

trace it to its no-beginning
track it to its no-end
it can’t be known
only lived as ease in your own life

to understand where you’re from
is the nut of knowledge
.

from the Tao te Ching or Lao Tzu