Poetry Series: "Straying Far from Myself" Part 2

High Peaks Pure Earth has translated new poetry that was posted online on a TibetCul blog on November 19, 2011. The poems were submitted by members of a poetry group who all wrote using the same title, "Straying Far From Myself".

Last Wednesday, two poems were posted on High Peaks Pure Earth and two more have been translated below. Two more poems will be posted next Wednesday so be sure to check back!

Poetry Series: "Straying Far from Myself" Part 1

High Peaks Pure Earth has translated new poetry that was posted online on a TibetCul blog on November 19, 2011. As explained below, these poems were submitted by members of a poetry group who all wrote using the same title:

The theme of the poem in the 66th event of the Three Provinces of Tibet poetry group is "Straying Far From Myself". According to the custom, at first everyone discusses a theme for the poem, for example, "Flying Knife, Flying Knife", "Straying Far From Myself", "Winter", "Poetry with the Smell of Blood", "Mother, I…". In the end, after a democratic vote, the final theme was decided as "Straying Far From Myself". 

The order of participants submitting their poetry is: Ami Lhago, Dorjee Choedpa, Pema Choezin, Tashi Dhondup, Nyima Tsering, Tsering Bhum, Adong Paldothar, Dechen Hengmei, Xibu Feiyang and Lobgya Pema.

The Most-Read Postings on High Peaks Pure Earth in 2011

Woeser's Audience with the Dalai Lama... on Skype

A Happy New Year to all High Peaks Pure Earth readers!

2011 was the third full year of translations and blog postings on High Peaks Pure Earth, thank you all for reading, commenting, supporting, sharing and getting in touch. We are happy to see so many of you not only here but also with us on our Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus pages.

Here is a quick round-up of our blogposts that were popular over 2011:

High Peaks Pure Earth Winter 2011 Reading List

High Peaks Pure Earth has updated the Summer 2011 reading list to create the Winter 2011 reading list!

With these reading lists, High Peaks Pure Earth suggests books for those interested in Tibet and particularly in Tibetan literature in translation. Click on the links below the photos to see the books on Amazon.

If you have read any of these books, leave a comment or short review... if you have any of your own recommendations, please let us know!

Poem: "The Truth of Flames on the Thorny Path"

Screenshot of the posting as it appeared on Rdrol.Net

High Peaks Pure Earth has translated a poem written by an anonymous Tibetan blogger that is dedicated to detained Tibetan writer Choepa Lugyal. The poem was posted online on October 25, 2011. Three reactions to the poem have also been translated.

According to the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, Choepa Lugyal was arrested in Lanzhou, capital of Gansu province, on October 19, 2011. Choepa Lugyal's penname is Me Che, which literally means "tongue of flames" but can also mean a small smoldering fire or amber. This poem has since been taken offline, perhaps due to the political sensitivities surrounding not only the detention of the writer but also the reference to fire and flames, evoking the images of the recent self-immolations in Tibet.

"Mourning" - A Poem About the Self-Immolations

High Peaks Pure Earth has translated a poem titled "Mourning" by a Tibetan blogger named Sengdor, the poem was posted online on October 11, 2011.

On October 7, 2011, two former monks from Kirti Monastery in eastern Tibet set fire to themselves in Ngaba county town and later died from their wounds. This string of self-immolations in Ngaba continue, with news of another self-immolation just yesterday, an emotionally distressing time for Tibetans inside and outside Tibet.

The poem "Mourning" is a response to these self-immolations and the post has received over 1000 views and 40 comments. To avoid repetition, High Peaks Pure Earth has translated just four of the comments below.

Poem: "Square"

High Peaks Pure Earth presents the English translation of a Tibetan blogger's haunting poem titled "Square". The poem was written on September 27, 2011 and posted online on his blog on the same day.

This translation was submitted to High Peaks Pure Earth by a reader, we very much appreciate your help and support!

Poem: "Tearful Morning"

High Peaks Pure Earth has translated a poem titled "Tearful Morning" written by a Tibetan blogger whose online name is "Drink Blood" (Tibetan: Khrag 'thung ཁྲག་འཐུང་). The poem was written on the morning of September 23, 2011 and posted on his AmdoTibet blog on September 26, 2011 at 6:17 pm.

"Kumbum On A Journey" - A Poem About Kumbum Monastery

High Peaks Pure Earth has translated a poem titled "Kumbum On A Journey" by a Tibetan blogger whose online name is "Madman". The poem was written on July 22, 2011 and posted on his TibetCul blog on August 17, 2011.

Kumbum Monastery featured here on High Peaks Pure Earth in July 2011, we translated an open letter written by the monks and local residents to the authorities appealing for action to be taken over the lack of clean drinking water in the area, brought on by intensive mining activities.

The poem conveys the rather sad thoughts and feelings of the blogger as he visits Kumbum Monastery, mourning what he sees as the loss of the greatness of past, both historic, Tsongkhapa, as well as more recent, Tenth Panchen Lama. Interestingly, this sense of Kumbum's decline was featured in a Wikileaks Cable from the US Embassy in Beijing in September 2009, read more by following this link: http://wikileaks.org/cable/2009/09/09BEIJING2719.html

"That Leader Who Sent Me to Lhasa...": A Satirical Poem About Corruption

High Peaks Pure Earth has translated a satirical poem written by a Tibetan blogger and posted on their TibetCul blog on May 4, 2011.

This satirical poem appears to be a commentary on corruption, currently a very hot topic in both China and India. In fact, this news article suggests that netizens in China are being inspired by figures such as Anna Hazare in exposing corruption.

High Peaks Pure Earth Summer 2011 Reading List

High Peaks Pure Earth has updated the Winter 2010 reading list to create the Summer 2011 reading list!

With these reading lists, High Peaks Pure Earth suggests books for those interested in Tibet and particularly in Tibetan literature in translation. Click on the links below the photos to see the books on Amazon.

If you have read any of these books, leave a comment or short review... if you have any of your own recommendations, please let us know!

"No Matter Where I Am, You Appear Before Me": A Song And a Poem About An Absent Parent

High Peaks Pure Earth has translated a Tibetan song and a poem by a Tibetan blogger, each about missing an absent parent.

The first translation is of the song, "Longing", a very popular old song by perhaps the most famous singer in Tibet today, Yadong. Regular High Peaks Pure Earth readers may also remember "Mentally Return" that had Yadong team up with three of his students to sing about Tibetan unity. The song is directed to an absent Mother. Missing a parent is a familiar trope in Tibetan popular songs and writings and is often interpreted as a veiled reference to the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama, who turns 76 today, is seen as a parent figure by Tibetans. Common allusions to nature such as the sun, clouds and stars can also be interpreted in this way. For a more recent song that can be interpreted in this way, follow this link to an English subtitled video of a rap by Dekyi Tsering titled "Father".

"Only This Useless Poem, Dedicated to Lobsang Tsepak" By Woeser

High Peaks Pure Earth has translated a poem by Woeser that was posted on her blog on April 17, 2011. Woeser's poem is dedicated to Lobsang Tsepak, a monk of Kirti Monastery, Ngaba, who was studying at Beijing's Central University for Nationalities and was arrested on March 25, 2011 for unclear reasons.

Woeser has previously written poems dedicated to Tibetans who are missing or imprisoned, see these "Two Poems for the Panchen Lama" and also "Secret Tibet".

Blessings for Yushu

Popular photo on Tibetan blogs commemorating the earthquake of April 14, 2010

Two Poems Posted on March 10, 2011

Continuing with poetry for the month of March this week, High Peaks Pure Earth has translated two poems from TibetCul blogs that were both posted online on March 10, 2011. As reported previously, TibetCul was suddenly taken offline on March 16, 2011 and mysteriously came back online on March 25, 2011. Fortunately, these two poems are not back online for those who'd like to see the original posts.

The Year 2008 "Field of Experiments" - A Poem by Gade Tsering

High Peaks Pure Earth has translated a poem by young Tibetan poet from Amdo, Gade Tsering, that was originally posted on his blog in two parts on June 28 and June 30, 2010. The posts were removed on July 15, 2010.

Gade Tsering

Now that the turbulent month of March is coming to a close, it seemed like an appropriate time to post this translation. Readers may remember two poems by Gade Tsering that we translated last summer, "My Tibetanness" and "I Am Tibetan", follow this link to read the poems and a short introduction to Gade Tsering: http://www.highpeakspureearth.com/2010/07/i-am-tibetan-and-my-tibetanness-two.html

Although Gade Tsering's blog appears to be unavailable at the time of writing, Gade Tsering is very active on his Sina Microblog: http://t.sina.com.cn/tibetpoem

Highlights from TibetCul on High Peaks Pure Earth

TibetCul's Logo

*UPDATE: March 30, 2011* High Peaks Pure Earth is happy to report that TibetCul is now back online. The founder of TibetCul, Wangchuk Tseten, wrote the following on his blog on March 29, 2011:

Interestingly, TibetCul mysteriously came back online on the afternoon of March 25. We still do not know the reason behind the authorities closing and re-opening the site. 

Below is the full text of our blogpost as uploaded on March 23, 2011.

“Waterfall of Youth - Dhondup Gyal” Music Video by Yudrug (Green Dragon)

"Waterfall of Youth - Dhondup Gyal" by Yudrug (Green Dragon) 

from HPeaks on Vimeo

"On Lies": A Poem by Tibetan Female Blogger Namtso

High Peaks Pure Earth readers may recall a blogpost called "These Kinds of People Should Stay Away From Us!" that was written by a feisty female blogger called Namtso and posted on her blog on November 14, 2010. The blogpost was one of two that made up our piece titled "Fish Speaking Back to Ichthyologists: Two Blogposts on Chinese Tourists in Tibet" that we posted on November 26, 2010.

High Peaks Pure Earth Winter 2010 Reading List

High Peaks Pure Earth has updated the Summer holiday reading list to create the Winter 2010 reading list! We first started this reading list last year and have received positive feedback and also some suggestions.

With these reading lists, High Peaks Pure Earth recommends books for those interested in Tibet and particularly in Tibetan literature in translation. Click on the links below to see the books on Amazon.

If you have read any of these books, leave a comment or short review...if you have any of your own recommendations, please let us know!