To Find You Lose Yourself

I heard an oak tree to me confess: Happy, voted am I as worthless. Rotten, nor of low grade, Nor my timber was dead, On purpose I posed to be useless. Oak tired was of repute ever rife, Wished to live a natural happy life— Valued, nor feeling lulled In the eyes of the world, Fame it felt was wrought with so much strife. We oft rue, feel confined within gate, Yearn from all limits to liberate. Yet, freedom's all with us, But we make needless fuss. If want, free are we this very date. To find a deeper Self, The trick is: lose yourself. _______________________________________ This story of an oak tree is credited to Chinese sage Chaung Tsu: Lose yourself to find deeper Self. In trying to be valued, wanted, and voted significant in the eyes of the world, we often end up losing our deeper essence, and live artificially. Fame our sole pursuit and we no more enjoy the journey. In this poetry forum do we have a lesson to learn? ____________________________________________ Reflections | 11.05.2019 |