Men's hearts love gold and jade;
Men's mouths covet wine and flesh.
Not so the old man of the stream;
He drinks from his gourd and asks nothing more.
...
Read full text
This poem is one of the finest examples of Taoist philosophy in literature. The Old Man's life flows along as does the stream; his life of simplicity according perfectly with nature. The narrator in part envies the Old Man's freedom from desire and worry... but a Privy Councillor must continue along his own chosen path as a high-ranking imperial official... a position governed by desire and fraught with worry.
Poems are the property of their respective owners. All information has been reproduced here for educational and informational purposes to benefit site visitors, and is provided at no charge...
This poem is one of the finest examples of Taoist philosophy in literature. The Old Man's life flows along as does the stream; his life of simplicity according perfectly with nature. The narrator in part envies the Old Man's freedom from desire and worry... but a Privy Councillor must continue along his own chosen path as a high-ranking imperial official... a position governed by desire and fraught with worry.