recitation : Rich Solaski (professor of Seogang University)
Chong-Geh Temple
Ji Hye Shin
Towering trees-the mountain's brows
villages surrendered into a distant mantle of mist
wash off the stain of despair
each subject of meditation rests in the forehead
over the soaring peaks, like the abrupt jarrings of life
purging still-fresh wounds
illuminates the mountain
no birds flock among the branches
an empty nest holds gray clouds like an offering
the sound of a wooden gong alone passes through the temple
stirs and awakens the deserted mountainside
before darkness shrouds the mountain
the light offers up bluish evening smoke
forming a flagstaff in the air
a bent shadow of an aged pine tree
hurries by the sliding screen door
raindrops are getting as big as the worshipper's beads the serene sound of sutra-chanting
at once, transported into a state of perfect selflessness