Can someone interpret this poem?

Question

28. 1. Who knows his manhood's strength,

Yet still his female feebleness maintains;

As to one channel flow the many drains,

All come to him, yea, all beneath the sky.

Thus he the constant excellence retains;

The simple child again, free from all stains.

Who knows how white attracts,

Yet always keeps himself within black's shade,

The pattern of humility displayed,

Displayed in view of all beneath the sky;

He in the unchanging excellence arrayed,

Endless return to man's first state has made.

Who knows how glory shines,

Yet loves disgrace, nor e'er for it is pale;

Behold his presence in a spacious vale,

To which men come from all beneath the sky.

The unchanging excellence completes its tale;

The simple infant man in him we hail.

THE TAO AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS is where i got this from please and thank you if you interpret

Answer 1

Do a google search with the following words:

the tao and it's characteristics, who knows his manhood's,  interpret

Then pick the first one at top of page labeled

sunzi1.lib.hku.hk/hkjo/view/7/700023.p...  

This is a document that explains about Lao Tse's philosophy.  It is a 15 page article, but on page 6, it explains,

In the final analysis, the child or even

the babe in arms is in the ideal state of

naturalness to which we should return . He said, "

Look at the pdf file.  I didn't read all of it, but it looks like your poems analysis begins around page 6-7

I had no idea what it meant until then.

Answer 2

It is simply insinuating that men have two sides. Such as tough and a soft personality.

Answer 3

Sounds to me like its about spiritual/physical/mental growth, finding oneself. The first paragraph basically says whoever it's talking about is stuck between young and old (like puberty), second paragraph tells something about being hid, maybe not speaking out? Too afraid? Being the 'pattern of humility'. And we all exist under the sky. Then it seems like it's almost referring to God when it says He in the unchanging excellence arrayed, God stays the same right? And people are born everyday, so it's like an endless return to man's first state (reincarnation). And then "the simple infant man in him we hail".. Jesus maybe?

Answer 4

is this for your assigment?