A Travelling Document (Part I)

The mountains are
still visible

against the ink-washed
night sky

simultaneous boundaries
of the known/unknown
worlds of experience
dream and awakening

(too late now for contemplations
of the setting sun
suspended upon the horizon
like a drum)

a hidden sutra
waiting to be called to life
with the morning bell
and the weaving voices of those
who each day
respond to its summons

Yesterday
a fine rain
of volcanic ash
descended
covering the steps
we climb each morning

Before I knew you
the circumference of these
mountains did not seem
so wide
to encompass
such disparate worlds
as seemed to be ours