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Octaves on the Tokhang

1

Infatuated with the madman, we hear

His obscenities as mandolins, we adore

His crude, grating antics that cure our fear.

His rantings are violins, not on our door

The knock or butt of gun, cruel gear

Of predator whom we see as our savior.

O how we grovel at handsome power,

What melodies we hear in his bluster.

 

 

2

What rule of law the madman tramples

We do not know or care, no rule or right

Is sacred, his acts are his brute examples.

His words are curses of force and might,

We cheer his show of strength, how able

His rule: boot and gun erase all blight.

O how we admire his demented fervor,

The martial strut banishes all terror.

 

40_40.jpg
 Excerpts from The Tokhang Rhapsodies
From UP Institute of Creative Writing
L I K H A A N   4 0 @ 4 0

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3

Our souls are both vagabond and captive,

In the dark anonymous alleys of midnight

Where poverty or the law will not forgive.

In a haze the addled mind knows no fright,

There are no eyes for feet fugitive, furtive,

Devoid at last of fear or urge for flight.

Cheeks scrape asphalt, grit and grease devour

Our souls, each of us alone in the last hour.

 

27 May 2017

 

 

 

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