Sunday May 8
*
A glimpse
out from the span
to the leading light of my long day
slight gentle beautiful determined bright one
patiently making her way
she firmly alone firmly herself
to quietly remind me
that not so far away
for she I we two
our warm and bright future day
and to her then to say to tell
of rise through Batang Jakhyung
to where a building ancient
stands
Look beautiful one
its the Jakhyung Rito Pendeling
we walk into it's portico
the only sound our footsteps
upon the stone
and the turn of the mani wheel
whirling its prayers
out into the mountain sky
for the benefit of beings
Beside it
Green Tara Dolma
protectoress
smiles out at us
in quiet power
from her place
where she stood
when the army jeeps
of the PLA tore through
the streets whining around the turns
the sharp grind of the shift
metal upon metal
as officers looked
at this place
gestured impatiently moved on
it not to be destroyed
but to remain unto this day
Between them
the Guardian Kings
of the four directions
maintain their vigil
through the centuries
and Vajrayogini Dorje Nyeljorma
Queen of the Dakini
of fair countenance
with her mocking smile
perhaps it was she
who told Tibetans of how
the officers wore fur beneath their army coats
when their soldiers had none
such equality
Tsongkapha with his practitioners
Shakyamuni with his
stand within this sacred shrine
the gift they gave generations
of humans to come
still imbued within the very stone
of these walls
and thousand armed Avalokiteshvara
hero of compassion
ready to help all those in need
For all eternity
will he remain
until even the smallest most insignificant
seeming form of life
has evolved to the exalted state
beyond the reach of pain
And Yeshe Tsogyel Padmasambhava
who walked the length and breadth
of Tibetan land stand here
for a moment on their travelling
Near them the hand of the reverent
have wrought a stupa reliquary
and painted upon the walls
in homage to that
which is possible
for every patient pilgim
that struggles to this sacred place
All this not so wonderful
to my straining eyes
as your determined beauty
and swift uplifted grace
that endures with patient dignity
this that I see in you
beneath the open sky
on this afternoon
of our spring of working
and waiting
and weaving
Lotus blossoms rest
upon the window sill
and so we wait
two as one
we our effort
real and lasting
slight gentle
beautiful one
May 5
* courtesy of A Luminous Diamond (Bright) Crystal Show productions.
reference material for the poem is courtesy of the Footprint Tibet handbook by Gyurme Dorje.