Who cares about <br />the weight of a lake? <br />Who would care to weigh it? <br /> <br />Who cares about <br />the colour of a lake <br />without the light of the sky <br />to reflect in it? <br /> <br />Who notices its modesty, <br />reflecting all, but silent of itself? <br /> <br />Who observes that the lake <br />remains unaffected, <br />not pained by loss, <br />not pleased by gain? <br /> <br />Who notices its wisdom, <br />obeying every law? <br /> <br />Who names its generosity, <br />among the fish, the birds, <br />the animals who drink? <br /> <br />Who knows whether the tree <br />leaning over it, sees its own reflection? <br /> <br />Who notices its love? <br />It bonds with earth, <br />It flows when needed, <br />as love does. <br /> <br />Who asks where the lake came from, <br />seeing it there? <br /> <br />Who wonders how old that lake is? <br />It is without age today. <br /> <br />Who wonders whether the lake <br />knows itself water, <br />or if water knows itself lake? <br /> <br />Who does not go to seek it, <br />for its stillness, for its silence, <br />as if it understands the mind’s needs, <br />the heart’s nourishment? <br /> <br />He is like that.<br /><br />Michael Shepherd<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/like-the-lake-a-chinese-poet-sits-beside-in-a-painting/
