Tashi sits at the side of the stage
in the bamboo chair. A monk
in golden robes on a blood red seat.
Tashi sits on stage
in his cell in Tibet
the pages of his magazine scattered
in his head space, stuffed
in his mouth.
Tashi sits silent
in the scream of hearts, minds
in the freedom of the new Tibet.
Tashi sits on the side of the stage
in Melbourne
In a week of words
he mouths
a silent scream.
Tashi sits
on a stage
in a cell
and asks us
to speak
into
the silence.
Written at the Melbourne Writers Festival in response to the empty chairs organised by PEN International to represent writers in prison.
