| As we arrived at Angkorjust before the sun | | | | finances were so tight that I couldn't afford to accept |
| We saw a tremendous array of colorbegin to surface | | | | her offer. It was only weeks afterward that I was able |
| just below a Cimmerian sky. | | | | to visit the temple by myself. |
| Black shadows covered ancientcollimated spires ...while | | | | In this poem, I attempted to capture the exotic nature |
| exotic deities could be seenchiseled into extraordinary | | | | and mystical feeling that a trip to Angkor Wat will |
| stone. | | | | certainly provide. The temple was originally built for |
| A warm summer breezebegan to driftslowly down the | | | | King Suryavarman at the beginning of the 12th century. |
| pike. | | | | Initially, it was created to honor Vishnu, the great Hindu |
| Yet, all of this was occurringas Thai and Cambodian | | | | god. Vishnu is considered the creator and destroyer of |
| forceswere clashing at Preah Vihea. | | | | all existences. It is believed that Vishnu sustains and |
| Certainly this was an ironic tribute ...to the Lord Buddha | | | | governs the universe. Later Angkor Wat became a |
| Siddhartha | | | | site for Buddhist worship as the populace converted to |
| Sakyamuni. | | | | Mahayana Buddhism. |
| Actually, this poem was created from my imagination. I | | | | Not long before my trip Thai and Cambodian soldiers |
| had the good fortune to meet a woman from Shaghai | | | | were stationed near the temple at Preah Vihea due to |
| named, Zhao Yan Xia. She encouraged me to rent a | | | | a border dispute. It is reported that six people have lost |
| bike to ride with her to Angkor Wat. Unfortunately, my | | | | their lives as a result of these skirmishes. |