Teachers

Walking in the forest 
we may take notice of teachers 
who impart lessons 
to anyone willing to listen. 

Trees stand tall 
and welcome the wind, 
swaying, flexing, bending, 
partners in a timeless dance, 
a soundtrack of birdsong 
and rushing water 
and rustling leaves. 
Trees, noble, 
do not know 
they are noble. 

Rocks sit silently, 
imperturbable, enduring, 
seemingly immutable 
yet mutable, yielding 
to the gentle caress 
of a mountain stream 
smoothing and shaping. 
Rocks, utterly still, 
do not know 
they are still. 

Animals move about 
not imagining or planning 
where or how or when, 
yet, life provides 
and requires no desire. 
Things are as they are. 
Animals do not wish or hope 
for this moment to be different. 
Animals, surrendered, 
do not know 
they surrender. 

Embracing these teachings 
we stand, sit, move. 

Noble, still, surrendered. 

Not knowing.