Peaceful Warriors

Concept: Dolma Daktsa

Photograph: Maria Duchesne

I see how life acts as a painter

It paints on you.

A fresh, clean canvas.

When the work begins,

you’re left dealing with emotions,

some wounds,

and the subtlety of the maverick.

Everything was out on display.

This play,

the new lows of petty politics,

the strong preying on the weak,

the distance between your home, and their money.

The generational traumas

laying dormant in our subconscious.

We all saw it.

All hell broke loose.

To honor your existence

amidst the chaos

is to excel in your healing.

To dig deeper,

knowing your history,

your ancestors,

your coping mechanisms,

and your parents

as individuals.

Like I see a visual of my teen father

building roads on alien land.

My dear grandparents,

carrying my young father through the snowy mountains.

They were warriors

skilled

in seeing the silver lining,

turning every pain

into power.

Here I am,

in my attempt to carry their legacy,

to wrestle the evil with the sword they offered,

to forge ahead,

to befriend the angels

in a garden I nurture.