u.s. tibet committee

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Tsoltim N. Shakabpa

Tsoltim N. Shakabpa is the son of the well-known Tibetan historian and statesman, Tsepon Wangchuk Deden Shakabpa. He suffered a major stroke in 1999, but despite this setback continues the fight for Tibet's independence and writes poetry to keep mentally alert.

--- A PLEA TO CONTINUE THE FIGHT FOR TIBET'S
INDEPENDENCE
--- THE DALAI LAMA
--- TIBET WILL BE FREE AND INDEPENDENT AGAIN
--- POTALA
--- NORBULINGKA
--- THE XIVth DALAI LAMA
--- TORN BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES
--- OUR BOAT IS WEAK AND WEATHERED
--- MY TIBET
--- MADE IN CHINA
--- THE BUDDHA
--- NIRVANA

A PLEA TO CONTINUE THE FIGHT FOR TIBET'S INDEPENDENCE
o ye of little faith!
what have you done?
how could you consider selling us so short?
have you forgotten
the promises broken
the lives lost the tortures borne
the tears shed?
have you forgotten
the fathers killed
the mothers tortured
the sisters raped
the brothers in jail?

o ye of little faith!
have you gone mad?
have you forgotten
the prayer-flags burned
the temples ruined
the homes robbed
the land made barren?
have you forgotten
the promises you made
the hope you gave
to our sons and daughters
whose lives you are
now about to entrust
to the predator
who butchered our past?

pray, my friends,
look around you
behind you, before you
the devil comes
in many forms
the TRUTH in only one!
for centuries
our kings and lamas
fought for this land
to preserve the dignity
of independence and freedom.
I beg of you
let not a momentary happiness
destroy our freedom forever.

THE DALAI LAMA
born a village child
raised a god king
he is a simple monk
burdened with the plight of his people
who are oppressed
suppressed and transgressed.
he is an ocean of wisdom
compassionate and kind
offering a carrot rather than the stick
hoping the red hawk
will release Tibet from its mouth
but the red hawk does not a carrot want
it wants meat
but meat he has none
he is a vegetarian.
He is the Dalai Lama.

TIBET WILL BE FREE AND INDEPENDENT AGAIN
for one hundred thousand moons
we flourished
in the glory of independence
and the joy of freedom.
for a few stormy years
we have borne
the torture of tyranny
the pain of homelessness.
the downturn in our history
is a speck in the rainbow.
the wheel of life must turn
the ants will survive
the dinosaurs will fade away
Tibet will be free and independent again.

POTALA
potala!
built by human hands
guided by saints
rises from god's earth
to touch the heavenly sky
its golden roof
glittering in the sun
shines hope on the hopeless
its thousand windows
shimmering in the moonlight
look over the city of lhasa
making it sparkle
like a thousand stars.
o! potala!
monument to the gods
symbol of tibet's freedom
the rightful heirs
to your throne will return
the butter lamps
will burn bright again
and your rooms will be filled
with the aroma of incense.

NORBULINGKA
norbulingka!
precious jewel park
with roses of hope
daffodils of delight
and lilacs of purity.
it is a holy place!
serenity reigns in the air
gentle winds whistle
compassionate songs
the shimmering pond
reflects unbridled love
life is marked with tranquility
in norbulingka.

THE XIVth DALAI LAMA
seeing him
is like being in heaven
believing in him
is like seeing the truth
no matter what
you might think of him
he is truly extraordinary
he enlightens you
he showers you with love
he smothers you in kindness
he is neither man nor God
he is extraterrestrial
he is the XIVth Dalai Lama.

TORN BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES
torn between two countries
separated by boundaries
one gave me birth
the other health
one gave me my heritage
the other my children's parentage
one taught me theocracy
the other gave me democracy
shattered dreams in one
in the other life in the sun
for whom shall i my loyalty reserve?
which country shall i loyally serve?
torn between two countries
separated by boundaries
my heart will die for America
my soul will live on in Tibet.

OUR BOAT IS WEAK AND WEATHERED
our boat is weak and weathered
our sails are torn and feathered
complacent we have become
living in summer doldrum
awaken we must to reality
the commies have taken our country
our people are tortured
our youth de-cultured
our monks murdered
our scriptures butchered
Tibet can only be free
when we forget "i" and "me"
instead rebuilt our boat
that can in stormy weather float
and raise our flag high
to bid the commies good-bye
people of Tibet
rise up from your bed
fight for your destiny
and set yourselves free

MY TIBET
my Tibet
sparkling in the snow
like diamonds in the sky
your mountain ranges endless
your air so pure

my Tibet
monks chanting prayers
nomads herding sheep
all so happy
all so fulfilled

my Tibet
the potala
reaching to the heavens
the norbulingka
a garden of eden

my Tibet
the dalai lama
illuminating the country with compassion
the people
enjoying ultimate peace and freedom

i long for yesteryear
i long for the future
i long for my Tibet

MADE IN CHINA
made in china
by unpaid prisoners
made in china
by starving prisoners
made in china
by brainwashed prisoners
made in china
by tortured prisoners
made in china
by dying prisoners
made in china
from dead prisoners
would you buy anything
made in china?

THE BUDDHA
under the velvet moon
beneath the banyan tree
He meditated for you and me
so frail of body
but strong of mind
He sought to find
the answer to our woes

He found it not in heaven
nor in hell
but here on earth
upon which we live
He saw sickness
suffering and death
and realized
man hath wrought
all these upon himself

He attained the ever after
yet returns life after life
to light the path
for us earthly bodies
He is the Buddha!
He is the Enlightened One!

NIRVANA
life's music
is death to the living
death's drink
gives life to all dead
in this pattern
fate knits our lives
inflames our ambitions
tortures our missions

tortured life
break your friendship-bond with fate
die eternally
living only in death
waking, sleeping
in the light of darkness
never gambling
in the darkness of life

[ photo | nancy jo johnson ]

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