This was written for One Single Impression Prompt #25: Homecoming. The title is the actual name of the current and 14th Dalai Lama. Enjoy.
-Nicole
fourteen stones
winding, smooth, and wet
across a cold, spinning river
laid end to end
in a diagonal pattern of stars
homeward bound to Heaven
the fourteenth comes undone
and floats in the gray, clean river
spinning out of control
floating onto different coasts
colliding with river-planted boulders
different hands receive him
different hands pick him up
and hold him
smooth stone skips
across time and space waters
fourth dimension rivers
cannot hold him
as he searches for home
Written 8/17/08
© 2008. All Rights Reserved.
Beautiful vocabulary in this poem, along with the way you have merged images of slow serenity with the precipitous – nicely crafted!
An excellent poem-
A great tribute to the Dalai Lama.
Thank you for sharing it, and the drawing.
I echo the sentiments expressed above. What a beautiful tribute and keen insight into the nature of Buddhism.
I like the zen feeling of floating away with the stone. This poem seems very metaphysical.
Excellent work! The drawing and the poem are perfect!
a wonderful play of wonderings as he searches for home as he cannot go to his home he once knew… he has all but disappeared from the olympic scene.. i am curious as to those who were demonstrating the dalai and tibet’s current problem what did china do… jail them all??!!
your words remind me of how following life’s path can take us to unanticipted homes
Oh wow, I LOVE this!!!
Thank you, everyone…I was touched by his story and especially upset when I found out that the Chinese government has forbidden the other Lamas from searching for his successor when he dies…so sad what fear, paranoia, and need for excessive control can do. It can crush the human spirit. I think he is an example of someone who perseveres. We can all learn from him in this.
I know he will eventually find his way home.
-Nicole