You May… – For Tibet
“I am giving away my body as an offering of light to chase away the darkness, to free all beings from suffering, and to lead them.. to the Amitabha, the Buddha of infinite light. My offering of light is for all living beings, even as insignificant as lice and nits, to dispel their pain and to guide them to the state of enlightenment.”
It may have been
In the assembly hall of your monastery,
By a temple, a golden statue or a white stupa,
In the market place
Or on the main street of your town,
By the military base or in front of the government buildings,
That you drank or doused yourself in kerosene
And set yourself ablaze.
Your last words may have been illegible,
Wrapped in prayer flags and flames as you took your final steps -
Or distinct slogans of protest against the Chinese Government,
Calls to Free Tibet
Pleas for the return of the Dalai Lama, the Kamapa and the Panchen Lama
May have been heard
As you held your hands in prayer.
You may have died immediately
Or police may have doused you in water,
Kicked you as you burned,
And taken you away -
Issued news of your death
- Or none at all.
Hundreds of people may have attended your last rites,
Surrounded by swarms of armed police,
Or you may still be hospitalized now
With little hope of survival.
Your body may have been covered in prayer shawls,
Taken by monks for rituals,
Or cremated swiftly on orders of the authorities.
You may have been returned to your family
Or placed in a bag by officials and never seen again.
You may have been a highly regarded scholar or teacher
A devoted monk or nun,
A father, a mother
A sister, a brother
A husband, a wife
To those who may have been arrested, detained, beaten or killed after your death
Or who may live still to see your burning image every night before sleep.
Katie Rose 8.5.2013
About The Poem
The text of this poem uses phrases taken from the reports of the Self-Immolations by Tibetans which can be found on the International Campaign for Tibet Website –
Since 2009 there have been 116 self-immolations within Tibet and 5 in exile, most of which have taken place in the last two years. As there has been an increased attempt by Chinese authorities to suppress coverage of these graphic protests prompted by the violations of Human Rights faced by Tibetans, it is possible that there have been others.
You may.. reflects the uncertainty and missing information about many of the cases.
Stand with Tibet - Ways You Can Help
The Tibet Society - Lobby Parliament 
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