Temple

I tread softly through a winding path of pebbles. Before the temple, I find myself all alone. An ishidoro keeps silent vigil under pines and cedars. It will safeguard the wishes I leave behind.

Moss grows defiantly, weaving a tender green tapestry, It invites me to kneel and touch its gentle surface. Morning dew clings to a lotus, suspended in time. A dragonfly lands; we exchange a secret through whispers.

A stone bridge arches gracefully over the pond below. Koi glide without rippling the still water. Light and shadow shift through maple and cypress. A hummingbird darts past, leaving only a memory of color.

Let me rest here for but one more moment. A brief respite before the journeys ahead.