Home and Beyond

Home and Beyond
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His home reclines
On the verdant slopes of the Blue Mountains
Far from the madding crowds
Terraced rice fields garland the backyard
A green stairway to the heavens above
A rock strewn mountain stream transforms itself
To a gentle waterfall that flows by the kitchen
Wild orchids hang from the rock wall
Surrounding the crucible of creation in his garden
Decorated by red rhododendron flowers
Endless winding rows of marigold
Laughing in the fresh mountain breeze
Raindrops drip on sunflower petals, which fly away
As yellow winged butterflies
Honey drips from a beehive hanging from one corner
Of the slanting red tiled roof
That protects the richness of the ivy covered
Walls of rugged sandstone
There is only one pathway from paradise
That lets him out into the wild world outside
A burden of choices, there is none to make
Children dance up this path as school ends for the day
Their mother stands on the open doorway
Welcoming the world
A ray of sunlight glistens on her nose ring
And expands into a tiara in the skies
The glow surrounds the tiny household
Behold, the blessings of the spirit of the mountains
Looking down from the giant heights
Of the ice capped peaks in the distant horizon
Where the first purple sunlight gently overcomes the shadows
And silhouettes his home from the destiny beyond


Closing the shutter of his minds eye
He struggles to raise his aching frame
From his bed of cracked sidewalk
Inhaling the fumes of the passing mass of humanity
Plastered with the mud and grime of indifferent footsteps
Open to the gray skies, the humidity and wetness
Of incessant rains that lash his pavement world
Alone and tired in the fading attraction of big-city lights
A pariah on the streets of a concrete jungle
Alone, lost and out of control