Ela, As I Pass By
I cannot hear
my own footsteps.
I am followed by a king
cloud on my right,
circling,
pouring down
meaningless reasons.
On the road nothing moves
except the shadow of a lamppost
before another lamppost.
The trees tremble at the gates
of heaven.
Creaking, raging,
the gray lily of the field.
It seems I will not make it alive.
How can I be defended
by my umbrella,
its skeleton already
branching apart?
Redolence,redolence of signs
coming and departing
if I do not strike
the singing bowl.
A bowl in which I shall seal
the wind and the clouds above the
turbulent sea.