Thanks, Simon! While we talk about Laozi, Wenlong and I are under no illusion that the “Old Man” actually ever existed. Part of that comes out in not trying to force the poems to have the same “voice” or style. The verses differ. There will be some that seem to have the same format, and then an amount of them that differ each from the next. The only thing we consulted on sticking with is keeping a kind of pentameter for the lines–mostly. That is not in the original per se, but often the lines are three to seven characters long. The translation of the lines into English can be quite long, of course. I appreciate your close readings of the text, and any suggestions, please share.

Namaste _/|\_ 🙂

I agree to both: variation in flavor and the Old Man’s expectations about his own doing-not-doing of having existence. 😀