The powerful grasp and grope
Control of the Earth just beyond their fingertips
It slips away. 

The Earth, a Sacred Vessel
Marred by man, abused by man
But the Sacred has a power
Completely different than that of humans
Control slips away, the Sacred prevails
Like water between grasping fingers.
      - Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching. Heron Dance translation.

. . .

The more common translation:

Those who would take over the Earth
And shape it to their will
Never, I notice, succeed.
The earth is like a vessel so sacred
That at the mere approach of the profane
It is marred
And when they reach out with their fingers it is gone.
- Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching. Witter Bynner translation from The Way of Life, According to Laotzu