The carpet factory built a bridge
across the stream to her house
where she once crossed on a fallen log

Her tiny eyes are bright and hopeful
and surrounded by deep wrinkles
that echo the ancient Nepali Himalaya
And tears have run down her valleys
like the Kalikandhaki and Shri Bagmati

But at this time she is shanti
Above her small swaddled head
in an orange clay niche
rests a large quartz crystal linga
splattered with red and orange offerings
surrounded by tiny yellow flowers

She sighs deeply
inhaling on a yak brand cigarette
through her clenched fist
looking off into the distance -
                       The distant future
At this time she is shanti

.

Books available from Shivastan Publishing
craft printed on handmade paper in Kathmandu, Nepal

 

Welcome to Freaksville
Poems from Woodstock and Kathmandu
24 pages ................... $6

Maha Mela Bliss Trip & Other Poems
from Woodstock to Kathmandu
Novelette about the 1998 Hardwar Khumb Mela
60 pages ................... $10
.

Wildflowers
A Woodstock mountain poetry anthology
13 Woodstock poets
20 pages ................... $6

Night Travels to Tibet
Dream poems by Marilyn Stablein
20 pages ................... $6