Beginning Step

Always on the Path

Natural Laugh

Mrs. Ibach's Class

The Wind

A Little

Always Different

Block of Wood

Tao of Web

Tao is Staying

In the Marketplace

Enlightened!

I notice you,

standing behind your official role

as we do a little business

making exchanges

in the course of our day.

I buy groceries, your time

You teach me something

or play customer of the moment

in the theater of commerce

where we share the stage.

Do you see me, I wonder

as a thing?

a category perhaps

a character in your story

an object of your mind

someone who fits your description

doing what you expect

so our business gets done

and the scene can move on.

We meet as buyers and sellers

exchangers of items from Life's shelf

players in stories from a childhood

ruled by distant markets

and nearby purchases

pushing and shoving a little

to get to the table

where the sale items wait

impatiently on display.

The common ground of Being

that flows unseen below

like a river on which we glide

becomes known to us

if we pause

just long enough to notice

we're both the same spirit and flesh

people with courage

making a way through it all

to seek fulfillment

with ourselves and the Other.

What happens when you see me

a little more true?

What happens when I see you

closer to your core?

Does it change me to know

what you are?

Does it change you to know

what I am?

What occurs when we look into

each other's eyes

to see the one traveling

to our same home

and we hold hands for a moment

as the boat sways

on the rolling river

of Being beneath our feet?

If we get too close

we always can pull back

into the shell of stage and story.

We can say that we are not afraid

and lonely

looking for friendship

longing to touch others

from heart to heart, finding

other human beings

just like us in the marketplace

from time to time.

We can smile

or not

pretending not to look

withdrawing the search in our gaze

just enough to blend with the crowd

the script of roles and functions

gender, race, nation, group

and go about our business

without thought

still almost alone,

more so than if we had

recognized the other

for the brief moment that

came and went when

we passed by

and brushed,

touched

not quite accidentally.

I notice you,

standing out from your role

for this brief moment

as I in front of you

am exposed to your gaze.

Your being sings to me.

Your life shows on your skin.

I wonder about you

feel myself curious

and thrill at the touch

of your presence.

taobro
May 2, 1998

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