Example and Admonition

    My father‘s admonition： when given

    a choice， choose the path that

    leads uphill， always，

    so up we went， but all led down soon after：

    our destination Deep Creek¹， where water had gathered

    by taking every downhill opportunity.

    We thought of that when the higher path turned down，

    but no one mentioned it then， nor ever， in fact， til now.

    Two lessons： and though sometimes I feel clever，

    and have read the Chou I book all about that water，

    I‘ve not forsaken² either one. If there be something in a man

    that flows uphill， he has to go with it

    whatever sweat or humiliation³ may attend his going.

    Done patiently， this is called "matching heaven with heaven."

    Otherwise， just strife⁴.