! ! Two Birds On The Same Tree

Two birds rest on the same tree; their eyes are bright; they look alike; yet one is the Teacher; one the Student; the Student tastes all the many fruits upon that tree; the Teacher sits, just watches, filled with love and pride; the eyes of both are bright; when the Student has tasted all, the Teacher asks what has been learnt; for only the Teacher knows within their heart: that now the Student is the teacher; the Teacher listens as a student; the Student speaks now as a teacher who has learned this of themself; the Teacher’s eyes are bright: knowing that to live it through shows the knowledge to be true; the Student is teaching the Teacher now, of how to teach; the Teacher glows to know the Student may surpass the Teacher; knowledge shines from both their eyes; who is the more glorious of these two who share both the same name? who rejoice to need the other; who rejoice to be the other; now they are silent; now the tree’s rejoicing too; Its roots above; its fruits below; its leaves, a shelter; its branches, home. * [ Leaning on a poem of Kabir: Indian readers will be familiar with 'two birds in a tree' as a metaphor for acting with detachment; Kabir takes this further, into knowledge gained from wise action...]