Analysis of In TAO
Karl Constantine FOLKES 1935 (Portland)
Ineffable is that which defies all
imagination.
Non-action, yet leaving nothing
undone.
Truth definitively expressed,
yet un-manifested.
Appearances revealed as images
of the mind.
Order and chaos, the universal posture
of Maya.
A block without need of carving.
The unified Tao Te Ching, signifier of harmony.
| Scheme | XABA XXXX XXBX |
|---|---|
| Poetic Form | Quatrain (33%) |
| Metre | 0100111011 0010 11011010 01 10100001 11100 0100011100 101 10010001010 110 01011110 01011111100 |
| Closest metre | Iambic tetrameter |
| Characters | 311 |
| Words | 55 |
| Sentences | 7 |
| Stanzas | 3 |
| Stanza Lengths | 4, 4, 4 |
| Lines Amount | 12 |
| Letters per line (avg) | 21 |
| Words per line (avg) | 4 |
| Letters per stanza (avg) | 84 |
| Words per stanza (avg) | 15 |
About this poem
The opening line of the Tao Te Ching, Chapter 1 reads: “Tao called Tao is not TAO.” And the closing line of the Tao Te Ching, Chapter 1, serving as a poetic inclusio, reads: “The gateway to all mystery.” Attributed to Chinese sage, Lao Tzu, and composed about 2,500 years ago (circa 6th century B.C.), in 81 short “chapters,” the Tao Te Ching, as a classical text, is probably the most influential Chinese book of all times, expounding wisdom impacting all cultures and civilizations. This poem, written in the form of an acrostic, celebrates the lasting influence of the Tao Te Ching on world society. more »
Written on November 27, 2021
Submitted by karlcfolkes on November 27, 2021
Modified by karlcfolkes on November 05, 2022
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"In TAO" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 5 Jun 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/114727/in-tao>.
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