Courage kill

He is a man I like,
though others turn away in dislike—
for his domineering hand,
his way of trying to save the land.


He saved our village from the Kyeshe contest
his hostilities, unwontedly the greatest.
The bond between two villages turned toughest,
and his name rose to the highest.



They called him many names—
Teingyen Wugpa and Tiger, carried like flames.
Wugpa dropped school after brawls
in which he made teachers crawl.



I say he is a courageous man.
Because of his courage, the family name now ran
into dust. When the police caught him in the jungle
for theft, his life began to bungle.



One night he entered the Lhakhang,
the life-size Ku's blinding as he sprang.
He was not afraid to raid—
the old precious Kus for his life's aid.



The police whipped him to death.
Blood rolled onto the earth.
He showed no effect,
only said, "I was the one—no defect."



Was the policeman lazy?
Or was the policeman crazy?
They tied both his hands tight,
denied him even the slightest light.



The captain of the war—a bold man—
did the boldest, never before had a man
done what ought not to be done.
Yet a good man attempts, and risks, and fights
even when he cannot win the sun.

Glossary

Kyeshe: fight catching waist. Like wrestling.

Lhakhang: Buddhist temple.

Teingyen Wugpa: deadly owl.

Ku: statue.

The poem is a true story of my man. Nobody dares to do bad things in a bold way like him. Inspired by his boldness…