A year ago we took a tour of Japan which included lots of Shinto Shrines and Buddhist Temples. Towards the end of our trip the group descended on this monk, genuinely happy to see us.
Shinto Shrine
The lone monk in the monastery,
200 steps up, couldn't restrain beaming
when day-trippers sprouted
like the occasional wildflower.
First a riverboat ride then a climb
that shrugs off coats. One or two
other suppliants joined us
in this holy place.
A true hermit discouraged such people:
dodging them.
A wise mendicant welcomed visitors:
listening to their stories.
Brimming with bonhomie, this monastic
with his temple chants, hushed me,
comforted my core.
Silence steered the watercraft back.
Marilyn Aschoff Mellor
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