During the brief period of only four days, the flower of sacred lotus opens quietly, comes into full bloom splendidly, and then falls apart in just one breath of air.
In the bright glaring sunlight of midsummer, I found a lotus flower which had already finished its role in life and passed its best time of bloom.
Its golden stamens were drooping gracefully around the pollinated receptacle. The bright magenta petals had begun bending gradually, waiting for the time to be scattered in the summer gentle breeze without losing their dignity.
