"Down which hill did a small child roll?" Enquired the Zen master of the seeking soul.
"Is this a koan, oh wisest of wise?"
Asked the young seeker with awe in his eyes.

"It's whatever you think," said the Master, blank faced
"But I'd suggest you consider your answer post haste."
The Seeker drew back with alarm on his face:
"Is my soul really that close to disgrace?"

"Not your soul, my son, though it isn't snow white,
But something has changed since you entered my sight."
The Seeker felt his eyes grow most wide:
"Then what must I do to turn back that tide?"

"Think back to when you arrived at my camp -
Not two, but three souls were lit by my lamp.
And while you enquire of the vagaries of tao,
Your daughter has rolled to the base camp by now."