I left my heart in Kyoto

I left my heart in Kyoto

When the autumn leaves were so brilliantly red

I walked the old city with friends long ago met

And marveled at its sights in the beautiful weather we had

At the temples we washed our hands

Before entering the main chambers bare-footed

We admired a thousand and one statues of Kannon

Who protects us with her thousand outstretched arms

We climbed the stairs of a temple lit up at night

Traversed the torri gates of the Fushimi shrine

Crossed the river where our friends had spent their time

And tasted food from a vendor on the side

We drank green tea swirled in golden flecks

Sampled sweet morsels given to us to try

We had ramen and udon the Japanese style

Ate our fills of sushi and warmed our bodies with wine

On the hill that stands Kiyomizu-dera

We read our fortunes from omikuji and tested our luck

We meditated in a peaceful morning at a rock garden

Then strolled the ground of the temple of Peaceful Dragon

We saw the reflection of the Golden Pavilion

With its phoenix atop on the mirror pond

Rebuilt from the original temple at its very site

Where the glory of Yoshimitsu pervaded ‘til this day

With sorrow we bid Kyoto goodbye

Taking our memories with us on a bullet train ride

Falling asleep after a weekend of delight

We awoke to the wonders of Tokyo Christmas lights

Janet

For Janet, from whom love flowed without ever pausing, to whom I dedicate this page, who embraced life with a zeal and a giggle. Near the end of your life, you watched your son get married, laughed with your friends, dressed up for Halloween, met your potential future in-laws, held your loved ones close; and with determination and against the odds, you had swum in a volcanic crater, glided across a zip wire, and done horseback riding. You were truly LIVING the months up to your going to heaven, not dying as many had feared.
Janet, when I read this poem by Mary Elizabeth Frye, I think of you. You are the energy, the love, the happiness, the laughter. You are life.
 

Do not stand at my grave and weep,

I am not there; I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow,

I am the diamond glints on snow,

I am the sunlight on ripened grain,

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.
 
In my language, the poem may say:

Xin em đừng khóc bên mộ tôi.

Tôi đã bay xa, tôi đâu nằm yên giấc.
Tôi là gió thổi, là mây bay,
Là lóng lánh kim cương trên tuyết trắng,
Là ánh sáng mặt trời trên lúa non.
Tôi là mưa mùa thu rơi nhè nhẹ.
Khi em tỉnh dậy bình minh còn yên tĩnh,
Thấy những con chim tung cánh bay—
Đó là tôi rạo rực chuyến dạo chơi.
Tôi là ngôi sao chiếu sáng ban đêm.
Em ơi đừng khóc bên mộ tôi.
Tôi đâu có đó, tôi vẫn còn đây.
 
I thought I’d be crying, but I’m smiling. The sadness is there, but I feel a peace that is passed down from above, telling me you are free from pain and you are on a fun journey.

Dedicated to Janet Vo, who died on Christmas Eve 2013.