At a Temple in Taiwan
written by: Ian Fletcher
Another has joined
The legions of the dead
Whose souls I seek here
As if I could summon
Them before the effigy
Of the Enlightened One.
The incense and soft light
The temple bell’s slow toll
The frozen pageants
On the sacred murals
Telling ancient tales
Overwhelm the senses
Dissolving the world
Into a mystic dream.
The Buddha’s smile deepens,
His divine eyes piercing mine,
Compassionate, all-seeing,
Uniting me with those I have known,
His lips whispering the existence
Of the soul’s spiritual home.
Coming out of my trance
I stumble outside
And leave this realm behind.
Disoriented and alone
My eyes are blinded
By the sun’s merciless rays
That stream down like lasers
From vacant skies.
Born and raised in Cardiff, Wales, Ian has an MA in English from Oxford University. He lives in Taiwan with his wife, two daughters and cat. He teaches English in a high school. He has had poems and short stories published in Duane’s PoeTree, Tuck Magazine, Best Poetry, The Ekphrastic Review, 1947 A Literary Journal, Spillwords Press, Dead Snakes, Your One Phone Call, Schlock! Webzine, Short-story.me, Literary Yard, Indian Periodical, Anotherealm, Under the Bed, A Story In 100 Words, Poems and Poetry, Friday Flash Fiction, The Drabble, and in various anthologies.
Latest posts by Ian Fletcher (see all)
- At a Temple in Taiwan - April 14, 2025
- Golden Boy - July 8, 2024
- Sic Transit - April 19, 2024
