Lily, v.3 n.2 January 2006
August 30, 2006 by earlyworks
Inspired by the remarkable life of Alexandra David-Neel
Alexandra
Even as a child she saw
her life beyond the garden gate
running away or drawn by a vision
to China, India and Tibet
and higher yet to Lhasa.
Ten thousand feet up I trek beside her
for eight thousand miles across her pages
meeting hermits, mystics and sages
men who send messages on the wind
forbidden rites, forbidden places.
She is where East meets West
a lama and a knight
a hundred years and then
ashes on the Ganges
and her spirit in yet thinner air
still ascending.
