On return to the nature walk at Lu-Ye Heights

on return to the nature walk at Lu-Ye Heights
the path to the valley has deteriorated over seven years
unkempt, unswept, strewn with nature's debris
composted leaves obscuring the cement stairway  
joyful color tiles of commemorative messages we tried to decipher
now shadows of snakes lurking in overhanging vines 
downward and downward to what was beautiful
could not now, reassessed, turned from the sublime
i could see how, left unattended
the winding path that continues to wind
has no more good destination 
that timelessness left behind with beauty
somewhere between wastefulness and duty   
on nature's trail to pools of algae
by a hobo's hut long abandoned
near rusty chicken wire pen long emptied 
has nothing kind but an obscene feeling
one cannot return to the beginning
the trees remaining creak in the breeze
hollowed rotten bamboo bent browned by age
concrete banister moldy with ants scurrying up and down
and testimonial plaques once hanging between slats 
fallen to the path, faced down, with nothing to be heroic about
in adventures un-recreated
only archived in our minds with photographic memory
in a place better left to bedsitters needing reminiscences 
before passing on
but it doesn't help they young at heart 
to glance too long when the future beckons
with pineapples in the field ripe and picked
only their tops remaining replanted 
for next season's crop to grow again
in the circle game

Bennett Wp Chen, Bennett Chen and 1 other

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