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Hortensia Anderson

Lantern

The apricot light of a lantern sways back and forth as a silhouette floats through shoji walls.

The nun pauses at the open door, her shaved head a shining moon. Gently, she slides the door closed.

I curl into my futon. Holding the lantern, she shuffles through the zendo halls into the night.

on a breeze –
the firefly returns
to darkness