wings

The Tao has never had a name
simple and though small
no one can command it
if a lord upheld it
the world would be his guest
when Heaven joins with Earth
they bestow sweet dew
no one gives the order
it comes down to all
the first distinction gives us names
after we have names
we should know restraint
who knows restraint knows no trouble
to picture the Tao in the world
imagine rivers and the sea
-- Red Pine, Chapter 32, Tao Te Ching

We were sitting on a bench at the pond.

We watched the birds: raven, osprey, heron, red-winged blackbird, swallow, duck.

"What would a one-winged bird do?" said Lao Tzu.

"Flutter helpless on the ground," I said.

"And if a two-winged bird chooses one wing over another?" he asked.

"Fly round and round," I said.

Jesus pulled out of his pocket a small silver crucifix someone had given him.

"And if both your wings are nailed to the spot?" he asked.

"Immobilized suffering," said Lao Tzu.

"I much prefer the empty tomb," said Jesus. "One's wings are in perfect flying order."

At that, we ascended into the heavens, dropped down as rain, became a river, flowed into the ocean, evaporated into the sky, and dropped down again, this time in the form of three men sitting on a bench.

"You guys are so much fun," I said.