61 of 81, Poems from the Tao

Upon a steep slope
A small stream rushes
To join the waters of a great lake
Gaining strength and chaos
With its progress

In the 6th century BCE Lao Tzu scribed the Tao Te Ching, the Book on the Virtues of the Way, a collection of 81 verses on good governance. All good governance begins with self, a willingness to let go of ideals and an understanding of one's connection to all, the Tao. Nature and the Universe off the subtlest and most enduring of lessons, the gentlest way through life. Here are 81 poems from the Tao as interpreted and explored by the poetry of Pryde Foltz. The wonder and healing of the universe lie just beyond your thoughts and ideals.