Haunting Nights Poem by Emmanuel George Cefai

Haunting nights
nights Oriental
scented-smoke
and the lights
that come and go
and
the petals ope and
close
haunting nights
nights Oriental
scented smoke!

Age is weary
fading sadness
even dusk turns
to pining and madness
serene night and the still moon
brought not gladness.

in the temple
monks scant colored
censers move
the smoke arises
to the temple's roof
and heavens:
haunting nights
though not in winter
yet so long as
Beauty thrives
haunting nights as well
as be
in the heat of the
wild summer!