In Nepal

in Nepal I saw a tear 

fall from the eye of a Buddha 

and splash upon the earth.

as I watched, a flower grew 

in that very spot. 

it was fragrant, like freshly 

opened lilac or hyacinth. 

the Buddha's gaze was 

unperturbed, serene. 

the flower danced in the 

cool Himalayan breeze.

i had witnessed a miracle, and 

yet… 

i felt no surprise as

the flower bent toward me. 

i leaned forward, until 

my forehead touched its petals. 

10,000 suns illuminated the sky 

and i fell to the earth blind. 

i heard a buzzing noise, 

like a giant cicada coming 

closer to my ears. 

when it reached a volume 

i could hardly bear, 

it vanished and the light 

shattered to thousands of pieces. 

quiet on the mountaintop. 

wind graced my hands and hair,

my eyes remained closed.

crunching on the gravel path behind me 

as a traveller up the trail 

made summit. 

but when I opened my eyes 

there was no Buddha, 

no flower. 

a woman, her dark hair shining in 

the mountain air. 

she took my face in her hands and 

touched her forehead to mine. 

she gave me water and I slowly drank.