Issue 1: Kathup Tsering

Don't be Afraid Mother

Don't be afraid, mother
my dear delicate mother

Mother...
The soul of the snow
walks alone on the dark path
where freedom eludes

Don't be afraid, mother
though the hopes fail
the sky falls
wind blows
rivers flow
and upon the fresh soft snow
I see your tender footprints

Don't be afraid, mother
should the storms rise
I will stand for you
on the snowy road
the spirit of your vision rings
should hurdles arise
I will lay myself
to protect your legacy

Don't be afraid, mother
the mind closes
the heart freezes
the life ceases

in the Land of sorrow (Snow)
yet I sing
the songs of freedom
as your vision never quivers

Don't be afraid, mother
as the rain still falls
the spring forth cometh
FREEDOM...surely will resound.

Originally appeared in the anthology Muses in Exile (Paljor Publications, 2004).

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Kathup Tsering was born in Tsoe, a small town in Amdo, northeastern Tibet. He escaped to India in 1994 after taking part in a demonstration demanding promotion of Tibetan culture and religion. "Why do I write poetry? Because as poetry immortalizes the scenes of sadness, happiness, life, love and death, I have witness." He is a translator and works with PEN of Dharamsala, India. Tsering's poetry appears in the anthology entitled Muses in Exile (Paljor Publications, 2004). The Yak Blessing was released in late 2007.
To download a PDF of his work, click http://www.poemhunter.com/ebooks/redir.asp?ebook=13682&filename=kathup_tsering_2007_5.pdf