Guardian [Kyōka]

Photograph of a Guardian Lion (Fu Dog) at a temple on Elephant Mountain near Taipei, Taiwan.
some swear guardians
come to life -- dancing through
the temple yard...
but only Autumn nights, and
after a calabash of wine.

DAILY PHOTO: A Temple in Tainan

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Photograph of a temple in Tainan, Taiwan under blue skies. Anping Kaitai Tianhou Temple (安平開台天后宮)

The Temple That Never Closes [Haiku]

Photograph of the Taoist Temple / Cultural Center at Kaohsiung's Central Park.
the streets are dark --
even streetlamps rest -- but
light spills from the temple.

DAILY PHOTO: A Scene from Angkor Wat

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A photograph taken from upstairs in Angkor Wat, looking down at the wall and jungle beyond.

Temple Bells [Haiku]

Photograph of bells at Wat Don Mueang in northern Bangkok.
countless bells
surround the temple --
each one silent.

DAILY PHOTO: Gold & Blue [Wat Naxao Sukharam]

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A photograph of golden stupa and drum tower at Wat Naxao Sukharam in Naxao, Laos under vivid blue skies.

DAILY PHOTO: Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple

Photograph of Wong Tai Sin Temple Main Altar in Chuk Un, Hong Kong. Taken obliquely to the front.
Photograph of Wong Tai Sin Temple Main Altar in Chuk Un, Hong Kong. Taken head-on to the front.

Gods & Monsters [Free Verse]

Photograph of an ornately carved stone block on Doddagaddavalli Lakshmi Devi Temple in Karnataka, India.
the lion wind blows.

all about is rippling chaos,
but for the goddess
who dances in the
furious center,
pausing on one foot
as the dust swirls
in angry spasms.

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: Temple Art, Sri Someshwara Swamy Temple

Gate carvings, Sri Someshwara Swamy Mandir, Halasuru, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
Temple figure; Sri Someshwara Mandir,  Halasuru, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
Gate carvings: SrI Someshwara Swamy Mandir, Halasuru, Karnataka, India.