[MD] the way

[MarshaV]

Heaven and Earth are ruthless;
To them the Ten Thousand Things are but as straw dogs.
The Sage too is ruthless;
To him the people are but straw dogs.
Yet Heaven and Earth and all that lies between
Is like a bellows
In that it is empty, but gives a supply that never fails.
Work it, and more comes out.
Whereas the force of words is soon spent.
Far better is it to keep what is in the heart.

   (Waley, Arthur, 'The Way & Its Power: A Study of the Tao Te Ching', Chapter Five, p.147) 


Marsha:
What are the people?  Maybe its sideways drifting, but I seem to want to float for a while on this verse.