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The Chinese Sage
The Chinese sage nods at me
He wants to know what I see.
What I feel
What I know
What I believe … He is testing me.
His beady eyes reflect compassion,
Years of wisdom, etched on his face
Long whiskers, painted grey
Yet he still wants to learn from me.
Under the shade
near
plum blossom trees
we sit by the peony pavillion
Miniature blue fishing boats
floating,
on cups of fine porcelain…
white
Sipping from the infused brew,
the aroma tickles my nostrils.
The venerable sage smiles at me
He nods and beckons me
to speak
to see beyond
drinking osmanthus tea,
Listening intently
I stare around the bonsai pots and begin …
to recite from the way of the Dao
“In a typhoon, tall trees snap and break,
whilst bamboo bows and endures …
An old man’s teeth loosen and drop
Yet his tongue remains, because it is soft
That which is brittle will break
That which is pliant will remain …”
The sage plonks a pebble into the lake and smiles
“Hao!”
The ripples stretch like watery rubber bands
I stare at the gliding ducks, he is pleased
my confidence grows, I continue ….
“The wise man is not learned,
The learned man is not wise.
The sage has no possessions
The more he acts for others, the happier he is
The more he gives, the more he has …”
He plonks another pebble into the lake
“Hao! Hao!” He is pleased and strokes his beard
His face begins to fade,
the scene dwindles to a chaotic haze.
A chorus of voices, frustrated and impatient
Nudging elbows snap me back to reality,
A huddle of tourists queuing behind me,
Pressing … surging closer,
to glimpse through the display case
at the treasured Ming vase.
No idea of how long I have been there
I move away, still in my dozy state
Embarrassed, ashamed
I’ve left a smudge mark on the shiny glass
It might be worth going back
to the Shanghai Museum.
It is rumoured that his shadow still walks
around the complex of hallways after dark
when everyone has gone!
Thomas Kotsonis ©
11th December 2011.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Susan Zheng on -
Hi Thomas. I love how your poem travels back in time. I was born in Shanghai and after reading this I feel that must go back and visit this museum.
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Permalink Reply by Thomas Kotsonis on
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Wow! Thank you Susan ... xie xie ni :-) Your response is very humbling and I appreciate your feedback. For me, the shanghai museum still remains amogst my favourite of all...such an inspirational place. Take care and thanks again.
Tom
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