“When Yun-men was asked, “What is the Tao?”
he answered simply, “Walk on!”
-- Alan Watts
He throughout his life cleaved to the Way, the Dao –
that well from which we’re drawn.
“I’ll never ask where it leads,” was his vow.
“I’ll simply keep walking on!
“And these things before which others bow,
all the doodads on which men fawn?
They’re there to inform us why and how
we’re prevented from walking on!”
He passed and he blessed each mundane cow
that abided upon each lawn.
His sudden presence could cause a row.
“Get out of here, buddy! Walk on!”
But the years collected upon his brow.
He attained respect and brawn.
When they questioned the sage, “Where is this Dao?”
he simply replied, “Walk on!”
He’d been getting there right up ‘til now.
When they looked, he’d already gone.
They searched for him up in the heavenly Dao.
The stars glared back. “Walk on!”
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