great works ii – 2850 jta 12:25-2:05: love letters from the world

One theme of Tao- Ten is innocence. The poem discusses questions aimed at people who have knowledge, or people who have power, but yet choose to remain innocent. ‘Can you be without stain’ (Line 6) Without stain means without blemish, without sin, remaining innocent. “Can you be as a newborn babe?” (Line 4) Is there anything more innocent than a newborn baby? A baby that has existed his mother’s womb is as innocent as can be, without having any opportunity to be anything but. I think that in the latter part of the poem is referring to a fake innocence. For so long, women were supposed to have given off an impression of innocence, of ignorance, of being on the sidelines. And as much as they have been “Understanding and being open to all things,”(Line 11) they stand by and “do nothing?” (Line 12) Therefore, I think that this poem is asking of it’s readers, can you be innocent, and if not, can you display a image of innocence nonetheless?