Sunday August 8
*
A glimpse out
from the span to
leading light of my long day
slight gentle beautiful determined bright one
swiftly making her way
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 a few dust covered piles of sticks
along the road that wanders beside
the Yi chu
on it's way southeast to Kandze
from Manigango
There are more like these
strewn as with the reckless abandon
of she who gave Tibetans birth
For in this place
in the time of rain
the river swells
in a fierce rushing gurgling glee
to the springs on the high banks over the road
as though come to converse
of the years doings
with a distant relative
to leave woody adornments behind
as a remembrance
Then to rest by the Pak ste Mani Wall
looking out upon a hilltop
across the Yi chu where the flags
stream and whip in the wind
red in limitless blue of the sky
above Nyaduka hermitage
of Dzogchen monastery
before travelling on
to Rongpatsa valley
Look beautiful one
magi down there
across a glimmering stream
there’s an opening to a wondrous place
seen only at times like this
when like the river it wanders low
beneath this rocky place
a place of great shamanic power
Where the image of Vajravarahi Dorje Phakmo
looks out with fiery mien
upon pilgrims that make their way
before her benificent being
she whose awesome presence blazes forth
from every abbess who sits upon
the teaching throne of Samding
along the shores of Yamdrok Yutso
this humble cave is her abode
as she wanders to the east of her lofty realm
to the Tibetan land we know as Kandze
Perhaps it was a place like here
where Jomo Manmo young shepherdess
profound in inner wisdom
fell asleep where grass and vine
grew all about with wild barley
stirring in the summer breeze
to wake startled by the sound of revelry
held within cavern covered hidden
but a mere short while before
she wandered in to it’s opening
to behold an enchanted feast
of the sky dancers at rest from their
spirited travels
with Vajravarahi in radiant splendor
presiding at its head
Welcome cried she
gaily in her fiery way
to this our sacred carefree rite
return to the place from whence you came
with immortal empowerment of wisdom
to bestow upon the lands without
This then Jomo Manmo did
she intrepid shepherdess
shaman then returned to her flocks
not quite the same
for yogini was she
All this not so wonderful
to my straining eyes
as your gentle serious smile
as beautiful as the rainbow
on a stormy day
with determined beauty
and uplifted gentle dignity
that endures with patient grace
this that I see in you
beneath the open sky
on this mid afternoon
of our summer of working and waiting
Lotus blossoms rest
upon the window sill
and so we wait
two as one
we our effort
real and lasting
slight gentle
beautiful one
August 2
* courtesy of A Luminous Diamond (Bright) Crystal Show productions.
reference material for the poem is courtesy of the Footprint Tibet handbook by Gyurme Dorje.