Lao Tzu

A Lao Tzu Project:

I am working on a "re-interpretation" of Tao Te Ching, an 81 chapter summation of his personal spirituality compiled by Lao Tzu (551 - 479 B.C.E.). My interpretations are based primarily on the translation of the Tao Te Ching published by Stephen Mitchell in 1988. Then, in response to each chapter, I am composing a poem. The poetry below will eventually consist of 81 different pieces, each in response to its corresponding chapter of Lao Tzu, whose work, according to Mitchell, is "The most widely translated book in world literature, after the Bible." - Don Brennan 04-23-2011

1. NOTHING WE DO 03-06-11

Everything we look for

behind our backs or in dusty

corners is always waiting like a

birthday surprise, or a memory.

A single glass bead, fallen

from its broken carnival chain,

stepped upon, tripped over,

kicked behind the back into a

cranny amongst the dust bunnies.

In the search for what is lost

we tend to tangle ourselves

into slap-stick webs in order to

trip ourselves into miracles.

We even take hope from rubbing

noses with near death experience,

or even drugs, alcohol and other

petty methods of destruction.

But struggling in fear to find a way,

we lose ourselves even further.

Until in despair, in dread,

the search is abandoned.

In exhaustion and abandoment, the

desire to be found loses its strangle

hold, breaks its bones and fingers

upon the lies we have told ourselves.

Then, in our darkness within the

darkness, we are suddenly found

by that which we no longer seek.

- ã don brennan Tao Ch. 1