beijing distractions — E00;

golden gods
small & huge
all are gauche
to my other culture eyes

swollen kitsch
in hard restored
stone buildings
beautiful temples

detail revealed
were the light
not so inconsiderately
angled

these temples
are built for low
winter
consolation

now’s empty crowds
to my disconnected ears
young devout
bow

brazen praying
like new york
asking a philosopher god
for greenback

through filtered translation
and my ignorant eyes
i gain hints
of the romance

left of those characters
whose standout moments
had the community share
and gel

the right moment
the right place
their times’ temple gossip
my times’ mythic butterfly