Tai Chi Poem
by Mitch Hall
As ocean waves from one shore to another,
Arriving only to begin to return,
We shift weight from one foot to the other
And slowly learn.
Though we start stiff and shaky,
With little peace of mind,
Conscious of how others see us,
Afraid to simply let and be us,
Through daily practice,
Our movement is refined.
At precious moments,
Preoccupations cease.
We achieve a growing inner peace
And start to sense
Such wonders as we’ve missed
While tense
And start to feel
Ourselves for real.
Upper hand descends.
Lower hand ascends.
Left leaning lends
Lift to right rolling trends.
Configuration changes without ends.
Relaxed, rhythmical, round,
Graceful, flowing, harmonious, soft,
Healing, strengthening, pacifying.
“The stillness that comes from movement
Is the true stillness.”
Though far from forest clearings
And mountain slopes,
We may with our imaginations
Create a sanctuary space around us,
Find happiness within our funny selves,
Fulfilling time now.
As earth turns round the sun
And seasons cycle,
As night and day
Alternate and interplay
At regular rate,
We stand, spines straight,
Our feet on the ground
And silently celebrate
The Tai Chi way.
Facing eight directions...
Morning birds singing...
Whole.
Flowing toward eight directions...
Evening stars shining..
Whole.
(Poem written in 1974)