trail

the trail went up and up, passing through houses on both sides. The trail grew narrower and the houses more apart. Occasionally, I saw tombs on the side. They stood bravely before the autumn trees. They greeted me warmly, as if saying, "soon you will be here, with us."

I replied politely, "hopefully not too soon."

I felt something was following me. Wherever I went, it was merely a few steps behind me. It didn't even bother to hide it's existence. It was singing loudly, a cute Japanese song. I turned around and saw the truck carrying lamp oil. It had been stalking me for a few blocks. What an evil truck. It must be trying to sell me its lamp oil... But it walked pass me without stopping. We both went our separate way, peacefully.

Few people lives on the upper part of the trail. Only the statues live there. They watched me with their cold stony eyes, daring me not to pay them respect. I relented and bowed to them. They smiled graciously, letting me through...

I walked on and on. The houses disappeared, entering a forest covered with dead leaves. Each few steps were guarded by a pair of statues. On and on. Hundred and hundred of them. I greeted them each with a hello, they nodded at me but said nothing. I couldn't understand why they would sit there, wouldn't they have better things to do somewhere else?

I walked on and on.

The statues were all wearing red bibs, matching the color of the autumns. I circled up the hills, and saw their present on every corner. They sat there peacefully and motionlessly. Every few moments, I seemed to hear the silent chattering between the pair of statues, but that could also be the songs of the woodpeckers or the ghosts of the old forest.

At the end of the trail was a stone pagoda. No one was around. Not even the blind man who swiped the leaves. I heard some rustling. Someone was behind...

Behind me was a rank of Buddhas. They stared at me with curious stony eyes. They were probably the one who made the noise. Really, they shouldn't be that shy. I was always kind to stone statues... I asked them if there was a trail further on from there. They all turned their heads. So I have to retrace my route back down the hundred Buddha lane.

I saw temples hidden among the autumn leaves. They looked abandoned but clean. The background music was the sound of silence. I walked in like a guest without invitation.

The floor were spread with a red carpet of leaves. Some were bouncy, some crispy. Whoever walked on them would alert the whole forest.

A single leaf hung out from the herd. He was a brave pioneer and probably the last leaf to fall in the late autumn.

The temple was empty. Buddha was not inside, but he left his statue there. I pay him respect, wishing for a safe journey.

The stone lamp doesn't lit at day, neither does it lit at night. It doesn't lit at any time. I questioned it's usefulness and it questioned me back, "What have you done to help the mankind?" I was speechless and ashamed and left the stone lamp alone.

The man sat on the step at the entrance, reading newspaper. I have no newspaper to read, only the news of nature.

It is red, it's orange, it crimson and gold and everything.

Silent is the beauty of the temple. I left, letting it return to it's natural state of silence.

The petal lied dying among the leaves. I gave it a CPR, but it was too late. I buried it among the leaves and there it sleeps for eternity.

The more I walked, the more misty it grew. I saw no future and I remembered no past. Mist was my only world. I was lost and I was found.

There must be a mass murder of petals. They all lied dead on the leafy carpet. Who killed them? I don't know. It was too late to help them. I lamented for their death and leaved them to decay.