Buddhist Monastery

At the entrance
fierce warriors glare

on the ceiling
dragons fly
each in pursuit
of another's tail

Quan Yin goddesses
twenty feet high
rest on lotus

I yearn for the Nirvana
of smooth-faced boddisatvas
stringed lutes in their curving hands
making silent
eternal music

Nirvana
of the gold-skinned Buddha
on marble clouds
gazing
from half-closed eyes
inward.