! Wisdom Poem by Michael Shepherd

and they behave like children –
always themselves, and always natural,
all they do is natural;
they seem to be as expert untaught children;
and yet, they are not childish,
nor like novices;
appear to be accomplished; yet
not weighty; wisdom
not a burden or a badge to them;
nor the severity of teachers;
but question them, they answer, sweetly;
loving them, we love ourselves the more;

they are bright, in every way;
light – like dancers on the stage,
their simplicity
lovely to the sight; they live simply,
as if things they need
just come to them;
living without anything attached to life
because they love to live in freedom,
love to live as limitless;
like swans, like lotus flowers,
they float on the lake
of their own stillness;

no single thing
attracts them, yet
every thing around them shines;
shines of itself, as if it shines for them;

and when they speak, you hear -
the sound that shining makes.