Another Baja Whirl

 
 
Each breath-of-a-poem begins with a phrase taken from The Forgotten Peninsula: A Naturalist in Baja California by Joseph Wood Krutch

 
~~ 1 ~~
 
Saints and mysteries
will keep any plague at bay
for an hour or two.
 
~~ 2 ~~
 
near my own front door
the blasphemy of a clown
making oaks tremble
 
~~ 3 ~~
 
From the burning wood
a whole tale of woe is born—
my house turns to ash.
 
~~ 4 ~~
 
deserted village—
the deck of the grandest house
crumbling into dust
 
~~ 5 ~~
 
the northwest corner
where all the temple monkeys
chatter morning prayers
 
~~ 6 ~~
 
peach tree in full bloom—
she savors the sweet, ripe fruit
five months from today
 
~~ 7 ~~
 
a wizard’s garden—
his rustling among the herbs
till he plucks one leaf
 
~~ 8 ~~
 
to travel southward
where the hills are dry and brown—
the pilgrim’s longing
 
~~ 9 ~~
 
the caressing warmth
of a single tear flowing
down her furrowed cheek

 
© 2015 by Magical Mystical Teacher
 
 
More The Sunday Whirl, Wordle 203