Dreaming of Chuang Tzu

A blind old man was sitting by the pond.

A tortoise was swimming in the pond.

The blind old man was listening to Silence.

The tortoise was swimming with Silence.

God came from down the road.

Death came from down the road.

God & Death came from down the road

with grass like needles.

God & Death saw the blind old man.

The blind old man saw the tortoise

in his mind's eyes.

The tortoise saw the blind old man

with its own eyes.

He is mine, God said.

He is mine, Death said.

The blind needs divine light, God said.

The blind needs divine darkness, Death said.

God stood back.

Death came forward.

Death touched the blind old man.

The blind is already dead, Death said,

I can't take his life.

Death departed

back down the road

with grass like needles.

God came forward.

God touched the blind old man.

The blind is still alive, God said,

I can't give him life.

God departed

back down the road

with grass like needles.

All this time Silence

was laughing behind her veil.

She was hiding inside the lotus.

Silence came to the blind old man.

The blind needs nothing, she whispered.

Silence came to the tortoise.

Nature needs nothing, she whispered

and then disappeared

inside the lotus.