City Swallowed [Haibun]

Rubble cubes lie like piled dice. Temples and throne halls collapsed into mossy blocks brought low by the meager -- if inexorable -- forces of water drips and grass roots, roots that became wedges, splitting stone from stone. People push the blocks back together in homage to ancestors, but turn one's back and the hungry jungle consumes. Those ancestors crafted such sturdy stuff out of stout stone blocks. How much more quickly will our planned obsolescent cities be swallowed?


stout stone blocks -
toppled, dissolved, buried -
a city swallowed

DAILY PHOTO: Cambodian Rice

Taken in October of 2012 near Angkor

DAILY PHOTO: Angkor Wat Mirrored

Taken in October of 2012 at Angkor Wat

DAILY PHOTO: Ta Prohm Strangler

Taken in October of 2012 at Angkor, Ta Prohm

DAILY PHOTO: 3 Views from Atop Phnom Bakheng

Sunset on Phnom Bakheng in October 2012
Angkor Wat from Phnom Bakheng; October 2012
Cambodian canopy; October 2012

DAILY PHOTO: Chau Say Tevoda, Angkor

Taken in October of 2012 at Angkor

Phnom Penh Limerick

There once was an old monk from Phnom Penh
who'd been freed from the who, where, and when.
Knowing only now -
no Self, anyhow.
There was no monk and, perhaps, no Phnom Penh.

DAILY PHOTO: Scenes from Baphuon Temple, Angkor

Taken in October of 2012 in Angkor

DAILY PHOTO: Banteay Kdei

Taken in October of 2012 at Angkor

Siem Reap Limerick

A gambling tourist in Siem Reap
rhymed the town's name with "REM Sleep."
When told it's "See-em Ree-ap --
rhymes with "See 'em free app."
He said, "You can 'Ree'em and Wee-ap!"