Twenty instructions in Tai Chi (Peter Rawnsley)

Twenty instructions in Tai Chi (Peter Rawnsley)

Stand and let
gravity fall through you.

Part the mane of the most
beautiful of all horses.

Be a crane alighting
a brief flash of wings.

Turn and brush away
whatever hinders.

Lean back, let your fingers
play the strings of a lute.

Repulse four monkeys
until your mind is still.

Stroke a sparrow's tail
pull down the sky.

Press upon the air
push forward.

Gather like a whip
spiral out, touch.

Let yourself float
drift like a cloud.

Reach high and pat the most
beautiful of all horses

Kick out
the world will part before you.

Bring your fists together
box in your enemies.

Let yourself flow down
like a snake or waterfall.

Stand like a cockerel
on one leg, balanced, still.

Work the shuttle
threading between yin and yang.

Pick a tiny needle
from the bottom of the sea.

Fan out, turn, strike
whatever is an obstacle.

Draw back and apparently
withhold, yet push forward.

Raise, lower, stand
let gravity fall through you.