An Alliterated Acrostical

Gladly glittering stars glaze our eyes and minds as they shine forth stories of kings and questions.

Aerially revealing tales of hues and heroes they whisper wisdom of the boy of upright mention.

Utmost quiet queries quickened his soul as he reflected upon his sheltered painless childhood.

Turning to trade this un-tasted time he renounced his position, wife and child in attempts to attend his soul's tined tune.

Amongst monk links he thinks of self-denial, as legend lends living lean on one grain of rice a day.

Miracle of woman's wisdom wakes ways and weighs his mind with wondering wales.

A woman who spoke of giving up all desires which to this, forty nine days he sat so silent under softly swaying sacred salving Bo tree.

Seeds rained upon his mind making monk a mantled man sprouting forth four foremost noble truths:

In life, suffering of conflict is with us throughout our every days, even through long cycles of birth and rebirth.

Deep suffering and conflict originate from crying craving pleasures and individual wailing wants.

Desires rooted out, the third truth, will cease the suffering seeds which will one day lead the soul to the nigh knighting Nirvana.

Halting heavy hearted suffering is accomplished by observing and serving the eight fold path, yes the last truth.

And so the newly enlightened noble novice neither breathed excess of self-denial or self-indulgence, became Buddha, "The Enlightened    One."

Rationalized ripples rent past his painted reflection's request to not be worshiped as a god today.

To this day we see him in shiny shops and shrines as that well rounded rippled robust good luck charm.

High is the miracle and wonder of a long lasting legacy laid by one who's secret was to balance dedicated discipline with disciplined dedication.

And the stars still today go on to glaze our gladly glittering eyes with more tales of kings and constant questions.

In alliterated acrostical

Honor to Buddha,

Minerva Herrera

November 2000