
lush tea shrubs
under barren trees;
what’s the tea know?
lush tea shrubs
under barren trees;
what’s the tea know?
each wheel,
on the temple circuit,
spins at its own rate
turbulent upstream -
the river grows wide & deep,
becoming placid
boulders in a pond
look like rocky islands
in tranquil seas
clouds in the valley
look like water at the shore
on a gorgeous day
cliffside bamboo
becomes a sumi-e
when clouds roll in
Buddha statues’
fine robes & bejewelment;
what would he have worn?
a field of flames
dance in rows of butter lamps
in the dark temple
mountain magpie
flits from post to post,
skirting our camp
fringed by clouds,
the valley sat under blue —
but not for long