Poetic Shutterbug

Photo of Tian Tan Buddha taken by me in Hong Kong 2008 The Buddha Speaks I am poor I have no place to weep my occupation s fixed fixedly I sit a thousand years come wearing the richest of smiles go subtly extending a hand as if having given something to humanity I don't know what I can give and don't hope to gain I just want to keep my tears keep them till my work is done deep green sandalwood turns to ash parched red stars are falling by Gu Cheng (1956 - 1993)

Photo taken @ the San Francisco Botanical Gardens. Poem: The Path written by Gu Cheng from the book Nameless Flowers the selected poems of Gu Cheng . I will have more about Gu Cheng over the next few weeks. The Path you tell me there is a path serene and strange overgrown with free grass but we have never sought it never walked it because we are human and quite common the pigeon says: it connects to a reed pond the beetle says: it leads into trees but I believe childhood's footprints are there and etched brick headstones and crickets' low chirping