Love Fated at the Potala Palace by Lan Xin

Internationally acclaimed bilingual writer, poet and translator, member of the Chinese Writers Association. The only female inheritor of UNESCO-listed Dongba Culture, International Disseminator of Dongba Culture and practitioner of Chinese culture's global outreach. Winner of the Italian Francesco Giampietri International Literary Award, President of Lanxin Samei Academy and Dean of Yulong Wenbi Dongba Culture Academy.

At last, I stand before thee

Like a young butterfly fresh from its cocoon

Rejoicing, my eyes glinting with starlight

Dost thou know? Long e'er this moment

I have turned to gaze at thee a thousand times

Thou hast, in truth, stood lofty in my heart all along

Yet thou art so grand, so towering

I feared my slender fingers could not twirl the prayer wheel

I feared the highland could not bear my lonely cold

I feared I might fall short of thy ageless vow

So to thee

I could but gaze in awe, never dare draw nigh

And thus I waited

For a mighty eagle

To bestow me strength

To lead me to thy side

At last, I stand before thee

The moment I step upon thy halls

A flame of hope surges in my breast

My heart

Is like the blazing starry firmament

Abloom with hues of radiant light

Blossoms of grace and rapture

Burst forth in my heart’s sky, like glowing neon flames

In this hour

I no longer keep my reverent distance

I have at last drawn close to thee

In this hour

All fear is gone from me

For

A mighty eagle

Doth lend me its strength

Interpretation:

This poem traces the emotional journey of approaching the Potala Palace, depicting the transformation from yearning with awe and hesitation to finally drawing near fearlessly. With metaphors of a young butterfly and a mighty eagle, and Tibetan symbols like the prayer wheel and the highland, it weaves the poet's reverence, hope and eagerness for the Potala Palace into every line. It lays bare the anxiety of venturing alone to the highland, and more vividly expresses the relief and resolve of embracing the sacred land and hearting the light, empowered by love and strength.