Yang & Metal
Proverb
A monkey in yellow robes still has hairy cheeks and a dirty behind.
Poem
That fine man –
Bears a pike and spear
That fine lord –
Polished greaves and red head_band!
The pelican sits on the bridge.
It has not dipped in the water.
That fine gentleman
Has no right to those clothes.
Meditation
You can almost hear the clash of yang and Metal –
two forces of strength which find it hard to co-exist.
This strange poem and humorous proverb
are the Chinese version of The Emperor’s New Clothes.
Do not be deceived by external appearances:
look beneath to see the truth.
©Loes Raaphorst 10/2005