Dominic Damian wrote this poem to commemorate the Buddhist festival of enlightenment.
No power or wealth
Stronger or mightier than
Dewdrops on lotus leaves exist
No wisdom is more
Gentle than rain
Or the ocean of purpose
Where is the poet
Who speaks to the wind?
Where is the priest
Who knows the prayer of water?
Whose soft spirit
Can whisper a tender
Sensitive song of sorrow
To the falling leaf?
A Prince discarding vestiges
Of royal mandate
Forsaking all manner
Of comfort and conveniences
Homeless like a wanderer
Burning his heart in anguish
Seeking the chants
Speaking within his soul
Wearing valiance as a garment
With tranquillity breathing humility
That awakens the flaming lamp
Within the pit of darkness
A spring of hope for
Woman, man, creatures
And weeping spirits
For he who courted silence
Knew the beauty of loneliness
And found that
Greater than death is life
And deeper than life is Love
He is celebrated to be emulated
In reverential sacred holiness
Wishing you and your loved ones
A peaceful and blessed
Vesak Day celebration.
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