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