Poet's response to Lao Tzu, Chapter 8

VIOLENCE AND DESIRE

Violence and desire

are not unknown

to one another.

For whatever reasons,

these two sometimes

hang out, have a few

drinks together in our

brains, in our hearts.

Get drunk and

disorderly for their

pleasure in the two

most lavishly decorated

rooms of consciousness.

On such occasions,

violence and desire

like to bully peace and

justice, torment them;

Slap the virtuous prigs

around; force the pair

to seek refuge in deeper,

darker, quieter, simpler

regions of the mind.

Force them to turn for

reassurance, for intimacy

to humility and kindness.

- Tao Ch. 8