The heart of Taroko National Park in Central Taiwan is an ancient one made of marble. Winding through the park along the Taroko Gorge, a river cuts through the
ma
jestic marble mountains with water cold as stone, and clear as crystal. During typhoons, the river rages through marbled walls. Other times, silence can be heard through wind and breezes; within waters flowing gently through mountains to the Pacific Ocean.
jestic marble mountains with water cold as stone, and clear as crystal. During typhoons, the river rages through marbled walls. Other times, silence can be heard through wind and breezes; within waters flowing gently through mountains to the Pacific Ocean. Forests carpet the hills and peaks. Summer sun warms the valleys and heats the soul. In the aboriginal language of Truku, "taroko" translates as "magnificent".
And it truly is.
pagoda
nestled in forests
a mountaintop pagoda
guarded a
valley,
my
somnolent gaze
peaceful as
tree-quilted
marble.
Poem © 2010 by R. Burnett Baker
Photos © 2004 by R. Burnett Baker
Photos of Tianfeng Pagoda and White Robed Guanyin, and Taroko Gorge in Central Taiwan taken by R. Baker, 2004.
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