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The Martial Arts Master and His Student*
The teacher calmly sat in the dojo,
Waiting for his class to begin.
Seated on his cushion, he silently
Focused on the center within.
A student rushed into the building,
Stopped and gave a cursory bow,
And said, "Teacher, my goal has not
Been very clear to me until now.
"I want to master the martial arts.
What can I do to get there faster?
How many years does it take
A person like me to become a master?"
"Ten years," replied the teacher.
"Ten years? That can't be!"
The student exclaimed. "But I'll work hard--
Ten long hours a day! You'll see.
"If I practice and read and study
And work harder than all my peers,
How long then?" After a moment
The teacher replied, "Twenty years."
(2-28-17)
*An old tale retold here in verse
Waiting for his class to begin.
Seated on his cushion, he silently
Focused on the center within.
A student rushed into the building,
Stopped and gave a cursory bow,
And said, "Teacher, my goal has not
Been very clear to me until now.
"I want to master the martial arts.
What can I do to get there faster?
How many years does it take
A person like me to become a master?"
"Ten years," replied the teacher.
"Ten years? That can't be!"
The student exclaimed. "But I'll work hard--
Ten long hours a day! You'll see.
"If I practice and read and study
And work harder than all my peers,
How long then?" After a moment
The teacher replied, "Twenty years."
(2-28-17)
*An old tale retold here in verse
