As dusk set in the golden passage of Angkor br The apsaras opened their eyes and slowly stretched their arms br Locked and frozen in the walls since yore br Now moving out languidly like a bunch of swans br br The soldiers of Suryavarman stood transfixed in a daze br watching the apsaras in their resurrection br Breaking out in a fluidlike dance, they set the men ablaze br Helpless, they burn in the fire of their seduction br br They shimmer under the moon that casts its silvery night br Its come so close to watch the beauty dance br Bedazzled by their sheer grace, it watches in delight br Reluctant to go back, the night just got prolonged br br As the sun rises, so do we... br With breathless anticipation, finally getting to see br The grand Angkor, what we had all dreamed br The carvings on the walls sparkled and gleamed br br In the passage of the apsaras..heard a tinkling laugh br Shaking my head, we proceeded to the next half br As I glanced at one of them, she winked...I could have sworn br On the next walls, grand scenes of a battlefield adorned br br In the corner was a black burnt hole where some soldiers br were there till yesterday but were now gone....br br Renu Rakheja a.k.