Cross with the Lamp
By Hon Lim Wong

O’ Enlightenment, the Lamp of the Banyan Tree;
Fair is thy crown and strong are thy branches.

Sorrow,
Suffering,
Strife.
All are penance for the darkness
of the lamps cold
with the shadows of our being.

We see the sick,
We see the old,
And we see the dead.

I have crossed that river,
And though the peril be great, the reward remains greater.
You too can cross that river.

Remove the shadows
and cross,
Light the Lamps
and cross,
Fulfill the penance
and cross,
Remember, remember;
Always remember
the sick, the old, and the dead.
Remember
and cross.

O’ Enlightenment, the Lamp of the Banyan Tree,
Fair is thy crown and strong are thy branches.

We stand by that river
and cross.

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At the moment, I am living in Jakarta. I am of Chinese descent. I am a Buddhist, thus you can see those influences on my poem. I have been writing for about 6 years now. I am also an artist and am especially fond of Mandalas.