Sunday January 4
*
A glimpse down
out across the open sky
to the light of my long day
slight gentle beautiful determined bright one
firmly alone firmly herself
to quietly remind me
that not so far away
for we two
our warm and bright
future day
and to her then to say
to tell of quiet morning
beside the stream
as the branches of the trees
waved in the spring breeze
and the horsetail rose from the ground
in answer to the windhorse sky
A few steps through
the water filled earth
to a gift the Tenger left for us
the wood of a native tree
full of wonder and quiet warmth
and in a quiet moment of understanding
to know that it was willing to change its form
to become the loom upon which
we could weave our destiny together
gentle beautiful one
It is cold now and the land
rests in muted tones
shrouded in snow and ice
or misting rain and mud
I quietly struggle for us gentle one
two as one we patiently dig
our gift from its place
beside the stream
And after a few moments
of quiet gratitude
with a few humble tools
bring it to Mom’s wagon
A difficult way
full of strain and mire
tear of thorn and
great cold weight
cold wet sweat upon the hair
for the wood of quiet fire
the struggle for patience
with each step to place it at the feet
of lotus blossoms
in our studio
Thirteen centuries ago
in the land below Tibet
where the Karnali flows
a sandalwood tree grew
upon vast slopes of green and mist
Akarmatishila quietly stood before it then
in answer to quiet shamanic bidding
for at it’s heart
rested the silver image
of compassionate deity
that had waited through the centuries
to take it’s place
upon the roof of the world
that would someday speak
to the heart of the sincere
And then to rise into the Himalaya
where the mist came from struggling yak’s
nostrils as it carried the wondrous burden
through steep crag filled pass
where life’s end is ever present possibility
to a bend of the Karnali river
and the village of Khorzhak
and a temple newly built
above it’s torrent
And in a land where
material world is but part
of daily existence
and thus such things can happen
A voice broke the silence
with quiet authority
Far have I wandered
Here it is I wish to remain
put me here
Thus it came to be
in a small temple upon a lotus
pedestal it sat over twelve hundred years
Even still gentle one
not this so wonderful
to my straining eyes
as your determined beauty
and gentle patient dignity
this that I see in you
on this cold mid afternoon of
early winter day
Lotus blossoms rest
upon the window sill
and so we wait
two as one
we our effort
real and lasting
slight gentle
beautiful one
December 29
* courtesy of A Luminous Diamond (Bright) Crystal Show productions.
reference material for the poem is courtesy of the Footprint Tibet handbook by Gyurme Dorje.