The twentieth anniversary edition of William Martin's free-verse
interpretation of the Tao Te Ching, written expressly for those coming
into the fullness of their wisdom
Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching reminds its readers that the sage has been
venerated in China for thousands of years. Twenty years ago, William
Martin subtly and powerfully captured the complex emotions connected
with growing older in this free-verse interpretation of the Tao. His
words resonate just as much now, encouraging today's sages to recognize
their inestimable worth in a youth-centric world that often goes astray:
"If there is to be a transformation, it will be the sages among us who
will show the way. The elders, the wisewomen, the shamans, the
grandmothers, and the grandfathers will provide the guidance, for they
have undergone the necessary initiations . . . and emerged into the
spaciousness of simplicity, freedom, and joy."