Student and Teacher

Two birds on the same tree
Two birds rest on the same tree;
their eyes are bright; they look alike; yet one
is the Teacher; one the Student;
the Student tastes all the many fruits upon that tree;
the Teacher sits, just watches, filled with love and pride;
the eyes of both are bright;
when the Student has tasted all,
the Teacher asks what has been learnt; for only the Teacher knows within their heart:
that now the Student is the teacher;
the Teacher listens as a student;
the Student speaks now as a teacher; who has learned this of themself;
the Teacher’s eyes are bright;
knowing that to live it through
shows the knowledge to be true; the Student is teaching the Teacher now,
of how to teach; the Teacher glows to know
the Student may surpass the Teacher;
knowledge shines from both their eyes; who is the more glorious of these two
who share both the same name now?
who rejoice to need the other;
who rejoice to be the other; now they are silent; now the tree’s rejoicing too;
Its roots above; its fruits below; its leaves, a shelter; its branches, home.