I Ching
by Martin Burke

Standstill [Stagnation]

creative heaven and receptive earth

be still -evil will not assist
the superior man now

the great leaves, the small nears

heaven and earth yet there is no unity
the superior man calls up inner strength
he does not accept a tribute of coins

                             *

the grass and the earth
and the great with the great
and the small with the small

they endure -and this, this brings fortune
to the lowly
standing still the superior man attains success

shame

to act at the command of the lord
is to escape blame-
as will all those who think likewise

standstill is yielding
goods fortune for the superior man

and it will come to an end
and then there will be good fortune