States of Poetry - Poems
'Monastery' by Jules Leigh Koch | States of Poetry SA - Series Two
by Jules Leigh Koch •
the early morning sky
has bled out all over
the snug tiled roofs
and tranquillised gardens
of a Buddhist monastery
the air is a medley
with yellow and orange
shavings of sunlight
in the dormitory’s courtyard
well-bred leaves
are falling like penances
stone buildings stand mute
with only a monologue of prayer bells
sounding out each hour
in the commune kitchen
a group of young backpackers
eat their rice and fruit in silence
before their travels will take them
to Thailand Paris Brazil
while outside a monk walks along
the path
chanting a mantra
journeying form one end of his world
to the other