Somewhere in the South China Sea,
where truth is carved in wood
and angels fly on buttresses
above a cloudy canopy,
the trees whittle a bird nest for the moon.

A sacred cradle without sway,
a bark and leaf cocoon,
but will the new egg be born too soon?

Choices loom like pillars.
Promises sprout like saplings in clay pots,
but will they make it to maturity or be pulled
up at the roots?

Each evening, the sea swallows the sun,
the biggest bloom in the botanical garden.
One gulp and it's taken,
by lapping waves
before the day is done.

Can we ever truly love something before it's gone,
before we fear we might forget?

Right or wrong, we could have heaven,
or at least an apogee
of understanding, before the moon sets.

©2025 | K. F. Hartless

Photography taken by me at the Sanctuary of Truth.

Florist “Have Heaven”

8 responses to “Before the Moon Sets”

  1. Glorious words, glorious images.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Melissa. It was an awe-inspiring place. It reminded me I have much to learn.

      Like

  2. 👌🏾👌🏾 nicely written

    Liked by 2 people

    1. TY, BINNZY. I just hope that egg can hatch before it is consumed by a snake.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. My money’s on the egg

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  3. “The Sanctuary of Truth” Now that sounds like a Big League day trip!🌞🛕🌗

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Truth is, I wasn’t sure what would happen in there. But, watching so many people carve and collaborate, truth was found easy enough: we are stronger when we work together.

      Like

  4. How lucky you are to visit such lovely places! The architecture of the building is magnificent!

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