She tried to pay no attention to

The muffled whimpers from behind

Those heartfelt sobs so familiar

They pulled her concentration

Away from the ordination

Her beloved family

Observed the ceremony in tears of

Dejection and desertion

As they witnessed their losing battle

In winning her back

Tired of material chasing

As it could never fill her emptiness

Nor bring her emotional security

Sensed the endless turmoil of life

With a deep realization of

The ephemerality of secular matters

She was determined to embark

On a journey of no return

In searching for a life of faith

Purity and lasting peace

Decades passed she looked back

Still heard weeping sound of her family

Realized she was treading on their tears

To get on her enlightenment path

Heartless she was at that time

in severing their emotional attachment

Yet she never regretted her decision

By Shih-Fang Wang

From: United States