At the twelfth gate of the ruined temple
a lion has crumbled into sand
The bells of a dozen churches
toll across the island
The wind whirls white petals
down the twelve alleys to the harbor
Last year twelve children were born
here and twelve people died
Below the seawall barefoot in her marble dress
a girl lost at sea for twelve days
climbs the twelve steps to the plaza
where the Angel of Tears
weeps into a fountain adorned
with the signs of the zodiac
and twelve pilgrims clutching candles
file up the mountain road