Before leaving Deer Park
I climb to the Stupa.
Thay Giac Thanh smiles over the valley.
I bow and a lizard does pushups on a nearby rock.
In the morning fog I listen to the ravens.
No breeze yet, just the sound of the birds.
I walk carefully near the spot I saw a rattlesnake.
The peace symbol a little girl gave me, I leave in a tree.
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Before leaving Deer Park
I climb to the Stupa.
Thay Giac Thanh smiles over the valley.
I bow and a lizard does pushups on a nearby rock.
In the morning fog I listen to the ravens.
No breeze yet, just the sound of the birds.
I walk carefully near the spot I saw a rattlesnake.
The peace symbol a little girl gave me, I leave in a tree.
Now the wind picks up, the fog is gone
and sun illuminates this wild valley,
this place of peace, of joy,
of great teachings of love and compassion.
— David Percival
