Sunday October 10
*
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 the climb from Mejesumdo
over the pass of Nedreheka La
to the snow crowned immensity
of Mount Zhara Lhatse
Nineteen thousand feet it rises
glistening in the mountain light
blazing from it’s patches of ice
among inpenetrable rock abode
of the awesome offspring
of Nyenchen Tanglha
rearing up in fierce splendor
into the vast blue sky
to it we make our way
until it’s rocky flanks
are all that we can see
It’s immense skree slopes
dusted with the flying snow
reach up before our sight
a raiment of rocks beyond count
that make for harsh climb
and perilous descent
And far above the rocky walls
as jeweled prisms cast the light
rays out to our squinting
straining sight
or draw them into the
darkened stone
that has seen the storms
of millenia
There before us
a pool gleaming and still
stretches out before our gaze
it’s depths a seamless echo
of the sky's vast spacious blue
with the faintest touch of green
Zhara Lhatse is it’s name
Once Yeshe Tsogyel Padmasambhava
made their way
to this place of ancient sanctity
there to rest for a time
on their way across the Chuzi Gangruk
twelve hundred years later
Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje
of matchless attainment
to the wild yak mountain
here came too
unconventional was he
no fetters would he accept
to his minds own primordial
clear luminosity
we rest here for a time
in the midst
of the rocky crag’s serenity
then continue upon our way
Suddenly
into the dry cold air
comes the faint trace of rising steam
then to become a clouding turmoil
Look beautiful one mah gi
the pool below us bubbles
a hot spring is it
we rest upon a rocky shelf
above it’s healing vapor
as it eases the strain of weariness
and makes the breath flow easier
and there are more
than fifteen of them here
that have healed the patent pilgrim
since the children of Zodang Gompori
first walked upon the earth
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 swift uplifted grace
that endures with patient dignity
this that I see in you
beneath the open sky
on this mid afternoon
of our fall 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
October 7
* courtesy of A Luminous Diamond (Bright) Crystal Show productions.
reference material for the poem is courtesy of the Footprint Tibet handbook by Gyurme Dorje.