A Secret Shrine

In the valley, where solitude reigns

A brown road winds, untouched by any pains

Leading to a mountain, standing tall and proud

Where gnarly trees sleep, their sweetness allowed

The stillness of the lagoon, a tranquil sight

A ruined homestead, hidden in the night

And there, amidst the decay and the gloom

Dwells Beauty's self, half-earthly, half-divine in bloom

In the emerald peaks, the cactus thrives

O'er falling rafters, where new life arrives

A miracle of flowers, bursting into sight

A symphony of resurrection in the moon’s soft light

A slender ribbon of silver from above

Unfolds the green fronds, filling each bud with love

Bathed in the beaming flood, they come alive

As if a vision from immortal skies did arrive

Each flower, a chalice of snow filled with light

A mystical radiance in the still of the night

A secret shrine, hidden in the lagoon’s embrace

Where beauty lies naked, adorned with grace

In the valley, through its solitude profound

A haven of beauty, waiting to be found

In the ruin and decay, where nature softly sleeps

A vision of ethereal wonder, the valley silently keeps. ("A Secret Shrine") by Courtney Weaver Jr.