I am a Dog

I am a dog

A Tibetan dog from Kyegu

A few days before the earth shook

And the mountains rumbled —

sky darkened

storm thundered

dust rained.

In the night when all were asleep

I saw them on the march

Deities, gods, goddesses, angels and the spirits

They quietly left our town

Tails firmly tucked between their legs.

 

I am a dog

A Tibetan dog from Kyegu

In the night I howled

Peals of warnings

Up the streets

Down the streets

In Gesar Square —

And that Chinese policeman

Chased me with his baton

’Bi Zui! Si Gou!’ [1] he shouted.

I wasn’t scared of his black baton

I was terrified of the earth

She was angry

They drill into her bowels

With iron hands and chemical dusts.

 

I am a dog

A Tibetan dog from Kyegu

The day before the earth shook

I howled the loudest

Up the streets

Down the streets

My throat went dry —

That Chinese policeman saw me again

’Wo Be Le Ni!’ [2] he shouted

And reached for his gun.

I didn’t want to die

So I fled up into the barren hills —

There were no foxes, rabbits, deer, marmots

Only vultures hovered on the cliffs.

 

I am a dog

A Tibetan dog from Kyegu

After the dust settled down

I came back home

To the streets

To Gesar Square

To rubbles and sobs—

Kyegu is full of red flags now

A Chinese soldier with an oxygen bag

Gave me a bowl of rice pudding

I sniffed at the repulsive sludge

And howled loud and clear.

 

’I am a dog

A Tibetan dog from Kyegu

I love yak bones.’