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Twenty-Eighth Hexagram
The Flood rises
above the tallest Tree:
Amidst a rising tide
of human folly,
the Superior Person
retires to higher ground,
renouncing his world
without looking back.
Any direction is better
than where you now stand.
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Changing Lines
Line Six
Fording the flooded stream,
he disappears beneath the rushing waters
and never resurfaces.
Misfortune through no fault of his own.
Line Five
The withered willow blossoms.
An older woman takes a young husband.
No blame, no praise.
Line Four
You come to the rescue
and reinforce the supporting structure.
Order and good fortune is restored.
But does your help carry a price?
Line Three
The supporting beam
is bending to its breaking point.
Disaster looms.
Line Two
The old willow sprouts new shoots.
An older man takes a young wife.
Good fortune abounds.
Line One
He cushions the objects
with mats of white palm
before setting them on the soft grass.
Such overcaution is no mistake.
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