Mikaela Castledine #5 Lakmé

the beautiful basalt stupa
in the gallery grounds
has humming acoustics
as fine
as any instrument

as we are alone in its white shell interior
I try a few bars of Lakmé
and feel the sound swell
until a sudden crowd comes running
to see what might be happening

one woman holds
my hand and implores me to continue
but I really don't remember the words
and now what was a private worship
has become a public performance
not in keeping
with the space

she asks if I am an opera singer
no I say
and pause as if to add some explanation
but I'm not sure what it might be

she looks disappointed
at what
in the circumstances
seems a blatant lie
for what else is an opera singer
but someone voicing Lakmé
in the internal echo of a stupa

From inside the Skyscape Within without by James Turrell