After clothes purge in river glossy
billow like flags on perfumed breeze
outrigger canoes return
patient fishermen display scaly catch
After marigolds twine prayers
inside family temple
young and aged prostrate gratitude
on moist stone floor
After devout procession
winds narrow street
fruits garland altars
rinsed in thickening dusk
After the Banyan turns its last
long arms of sunlight into rays
of shimmering threads
silence lingers atop cool beach
After they strike ancient Gamelans
metallic timbre runs like a
river rising over mounds of boulders
trickles around, rushes over
After twilight rests on clockless sand
melodies catch salt-licked breeze
ascend to massive chandelier of stars
enwrapped in blackness
After music spins a frenzy
slowly simmers to stillness
musicians tranced
a glorious shower of light
spills from Orion’s belt
then sparkles an applause
astounding even the moon.
