We are continually faced with
a series of great opportunities
brilliantly disguised as insoluble
problems.
I
Tuco considered the statement,
"We are continually faced
with a series of great opportunities."
He considered how enthusiasm waxed and waned.
Some days it leapt at great opportunities,
others....
He traced the ending of the statement with his eyes,
"brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems."
Sometimes, perhaps the problem dazzles
and disguises all by itself.
Other times enthusiasm swamps the disguise.
If a man is crossing a
river
And an empty boat collides with his own skiff,
Even though he be a bad-tempered man
He will not become very angry.
But if he sees a man in the boat,
If the shout is not heard, he will shout again,
And yet again, and begin cursing.
And all because there is somebody in the boat.
Yet if the boat were empty,
He would not be shouting, and not angry.¹
II
Tuco pondered the saying about the way.
If you
can empty your own boat
Crossing the river of the world
No one will oppose you,
No one will seek to harm you.¹
He was skeptical.
It is too pat.
A rabbit hop startled his horse tethered under the tree.
If you
wish to improve your wisdom
And shame the ignorant,
To cultivate your character
And outshine others;
A light will shine around you
As if you had swallowed the sun and the moon:
You will not avoid calamity.¹
III
Tuco smiled.
It becomes, then, a question:
"which has found the way -
the rabbit
or the horse?"
The horse just shakes its head
and returns to the grass to be eaten.
History
never looks like history
when you are living through it.
The grass must be very good.
Under the tree across from the horse
Tuco smiles and leans back
to watch clouds crossing the day's river sky.
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