Second Eyes [Free Verse]

Photograph of the roof of the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple taken from the upper floor of the Xiang Lin Si Temple in the Jonker Walk / Chinatown area of Malacca, Malaysia.
From the dark depths
of a temple,
eyes open & blink
against the sunlight
pouring through
a narrow second set
of eyes.

What shapes form across
the way?

It's the roof of a second --
more ancient -- temple
that stands across
the street.

This monk has opened
eyes on that view a
thousand times before,
and each time has
forgotten the centuries
old neighboring temple
existed.

DAILY PHOTO: Scenes from Melaka’s Chinese Temples

“Monkey God Temple” [Properly, 齊天府]
Cheng Hoon Teng (Temple of the Green Cloud) is the oldest Chinese temple in Malacca. It is a syncretistic temple (combining Taoist, Buddhist, Confucian, and Chinese Folk Religion elements.)

DAILY PHOTO: Cheng Hoon Teng Temple