Recently, while reading some of my past work I came upon a piece I had forgotten about. Completely bemused, I couldn’t imagine why I had ever composed a poem about a fly. By the final lines, however, 
the reason had become glaringly clear and it made me realize me something about my younger self that I had not previously recognized: I have always been attuned to the ancient Chinese philosophy of Tao and I have always wanted to live my life according to its path.
This poem was written years before I wrote TAO OF THE DEFIANT WOMAN. It was while working on the book, however, that I believed I had discovered the Tao philosophy of acceptance as something new and wonderful for my life. Hogwash. It was nothing new–I had been reaching for it all of my life.
Like me, we all intuitively know how to live in a manner that nourishes our souls. This knowledge has always been within us, but only with time and experience do we truly learn how to incorporate it into our daily lives. It is one of the many perks of growing older.
FLY
What do you do
With a fly in your stew?
Tell it to get lost?
Tell it to shoo?
You don’t want to eat it,
Nobody would.
Except that it’s protein
And protein is good.
But the peas and the carrots
And pieces of meat
Will surely taste better
Than little fly feet.
So you must tell the waiter,
When he comes along,
To take back your dinner
And get the fly gone.
But do not get angry.
He hadn’t a clue
That you dinner was served
With a fly in your stew.
And all through your life
When a glitch comes along
And settles itself
Where it doesn’t belong
Like the fly who appears
When you least expect it,
You don’t have to eat it,
Don’t have to accept it
Do what you need to
To make it go ‘way.
If you need help to do so
Well, that’s really okay.
No need to get angry
At the circumstance.
It probably happened
Merely by chance.
Do not bother to blame
Someone like the poor waiter.
Life will have glitches
Sooner or later.
Love it!
Makes me think of what happened to me once. This is a true story:
I had ordered soup. It was served with a live fly swimming around in it. I discretely told the waiter, who took it back to the kitchen and returned with another bowl. He said, “When I went into the kitchen to get you another bowl of soup, I looked around. Madam, we have no flies in our kitchen. You must have brought it in with you!” Everyone at our table laughed hysterically along with the waiter.
Gives you pause to think about where those flies come from in the 1st place!
Okay – I blame the fly – how dare it get into my stew!!! loved the poem and yes sometimes life happens and it is all butterflies – which wouldn’t be nice i a stew either. what we do with the flies and the butterflies and the other stuff that lands in our stew of life is our choice. As always you have a profound way at looking at life. thank you
Thank you, Susan!
What a fun and lyrical way to remember that we can ask for what we need with grace and dignity!
And remember that stuff happens and we need not look around for someone to blame!