TIBET

That vivid blue sky
Those terracotta yellow and red buildings.
People’s faces wrinkled, tanned and smiling.
Devoutness in the lives of pilgrims.
Circumnabulating Jochan Temple
Scary deities, supreme Buddha’s
Pottala palace…..
A fairytale wedding cake.
Thin clear air.
Slanting sunshine illuminating Bohar square
Complicated Buddhist lineages
Razor sharp military muscle
A three wheel bike trader robbed of his trade
by the occupying force.
Wide Chinese avenues alien there.
As plastic as the palm trees.
Buttermilk candles.
Money offerings.
Shaven monks in maroon robes.
Chanting, chanting, chanting.
Incense sticks, dusty monasteries
Friendly vegetarian dogs.

Wide brown plateau with dust devils.
The biggest mountains in the world
White topped and awesome.
High passes and prayer flags.
A turquoise lake.
Our tiny bus a refuge of mixed European races.
Tiny as an ant.
Contrasts that will take me months to process.