January 28th 2009


I have walked the third circle
around the Jokang Temple in Lhasa,
I have joined the leather tough people who
prostrate themselves at each step
for six or seven kilometers.
They travel hundreds of miles to do this.

And
I have walked, or rather climbed,
the stations of the cross
here at home.
Today at this lonely place I met two people
who resembled the Tibetans.
They had the beautiful ugliness
that sometimes goes with lives of privation.
These were Apaches.
Their silver conchos had been on their hatbands
for a hundred years I swear.
But their handshakes were too hard
for ghosts'.

I am ashamed of my urge to photograph them.