This is an excerpt from Parker Palmer’s book “A Hidden Wholeness” that I wanted to share here.  This (prose) poem articulates a depth of wisdom, insight, and sacred truth—that is worthy to pause and to ponder on.  Seems that the best work (literal and metaphoric work) we do and personal/artistic offerings we give--come alive (in full potential)--when we are rooted in none less but that which is our real voice.  The voice, that is unique to you and to me—that cannot be spoken by another.  A voice--that speaks with a depth of awareness, sensitivity, and purpose for the deeper good.  ~ YogiGypsi

The Woodcarver (a prose poem)

Khing, the master carver, made a bell stand
Of precious wood. When it was finished,
All who saw it were astounded. They said it must be
The work of spirits.
The Prince of Lu said to the master carver:
“What is your secret?”

Khing replied: “I am only a workman.
I have no secret. There is only this:
When I began to think about the work you commanded
I guarded my spirit, did not expend it
On trifles, that were not to the point.
I fasted in order to set
My heart at rest.
After three days fasting,
I had forgotten gain and success.
After five days
I had forgotten praise or criticism.
After seven days
I had forgotten my body
With all its limbs.

By this time all thought of your Highness
And of the court had faded away.
All that might distract me from the work
Had vanished.
I was collected in the single thought
Of the bell stand.

Then I went to the forest
To see the trees in their own natural state.
When the right tree appeared before my eyes,
The bell stand also appeared in it, clearly, beyond doubt.
All I had to do was to put forth my hand
and begin.

If I had not met this particular tree
There would have been
No bell stand at all.

What happened?
My own collected thought
Encountered the hidden potential in the wood;
From this live encounter came the work
Which you ascribe to the spirits.”

~  Chuang Tzu
from The Way of Chuang Tzu