Temple Haiku Renga: A New Dawn

一 (ichi)
poised with posture straight
a slave girl ascends the steps
she enters alone
 
二 (ni)
slowly beats a drum
a voice resonant and low
mantra chants thrumming
 
三 (san)
breeze before sunrise
brass bells on red cords swaying
chiming like birdsong
 
四 (shi/yon)
with bracelets sliding
she lowers with fluid grace
to rest on her knees
 
五 (go)
serene upturned face
she offers jasmin joss sticks
and cultured flowers
 
六 (roku)
'neath shadowed bowers
ancient sentinel mem'ries
hold the echoed years
 
七 (shichi/nana)
of a thousand fold
of a billion tears untold
that stay mute at rest
 
八 (hachi)
with bare neck bowed low
forehead touching temple stones
she mouths new year's prayers
 
九 (kyū/ku)
in flowing saffron
monks passing in procession
all praise to Buddha
 
十 (jū)
while the drum beats slow
o'er the sunrise that blossoms
touching mountain peaks
 
十一 (jū ichi)
the gentle one prays
at the altar of rebirth
on this happy day