Sunday January 2
*
A glimpse
forth upon 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 the way
down the winding stair
from the Derge Parkhang
And from there
up the steep ravine
toward the sound
of the Zi chu
as it flows on it's way
to Yangtze Dri chu
Within our gyahp pha knapsack
a few precious printing blocks
as within our minds
their creation yet unfolds
for we have seen such made
within that wondrous place
Many wonders and secrets there
remain upon the racks
of the Derge Parkhang
where many yet come
to learn of ancient wisdom and lore
known to those who came before
we stand beside the water
as it rushes over the stones
then to a place where it
runs quiet and still
into our coracle we step
as it moves away beneath us
out into the current
ripples glinting beneath the mountain sky
Look beautiful one
its the Yangtze Dri chu
and above it a small temple
its the Changra Gonpa
of the Changra Podrang
summer palace
of the Kings and Queens
of Derge
Once animated laughter rang out
through its courtyards
and its gardens
music from among it's trees
and the sound of the gyalins
to announce each new arrival
and the quiet sound of pages
lifted one from another
from within ornate covers
of gilded wood
each to be carefully placed
upon a pile alongside
to be returned again
the covers to be bound
in blazing silk
bright as the sunset
upon the very heights
of great Himalaya
it created in the place
from whence we just have come
a regal presence quietly smiles
as she puts it aside
to return from
where yak butter candles glow
to the window to look down
upon the Dri chu as it flows
in flowing script she makes
note of subleties needed yet missed
upon a paper
then to the pouch
of messenger it goes
We rest beneath
the mountain sky
looking at the mani stones
beside the gates of fashioned iron
to look upon the birds that fly
among the trees
the light flickering from their wings
among the branches
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 winter 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
December 28
* courtesy of A Luminous Diamond (Bright) Crystal Show productions.
reference material for the poem is courtesy of the Footprint Tibet handbook by Gyurme Dorje.