While living in McLeod Ganj (a.k.a. Little Lhasa), I was deeply moved by the case of Tibetan immigrants in northern India and the self-immolation of many brave Buddhist monks.

Little Lhasa

A snow lion on a stamp pressed upon the page —

payment for a message sent far away from home.

So the rooftop of the world fell upon this valley,

where prayers practiced in pine tree tops

polish temple wheels and old wooden floors.

A blanket of peace smothers the desperate heart —

robes as red as their brothers’ burning souls