High Peaks Pure Earth has translated a satirical poem written by a Tibetan blogger and posted on their TibetCul blog on May 4, 2011.
This satirical poem appears to be a commentary on corruption, currently a very hot topic in both China and India. In fact, this news article suggests that netizens in China are being inspired by figures such as Anna Hazare in exposing corruption.
The poem makes references to “growing hair”. Taken literally, many Chinese people hold the prejudice that people who have a lot of hair are likely to be savages and barbarians. The references to musk and bear gall implies another habit of the Chinese, consuming certain parts of wildlife when they can afford to. The animal parts mentioned are very expensive, normally intended for Emperors or people in power for the sake of making themselves stronger or more virile. But too much of a good thing could cause unwanted results as well, as a lot of Chinese traditional medicinal theories go, including growing unwanted hair.
High Peaks Pure Earth readers who enjoy the wit in this satirical poem might like to revisit past posts such as “To All Those Longing and Hoping, Summer is Approaching,the Dragon Boat Festival has Arrived!” By “The Lost Curse” and “We Are Not Tibetan”.
That leader who sent me to Lhasa
I will give him some musk
Because poachers were plentiful in the past
My sister found some musk
That musk
Might be enough to cure the leader’s avarice
But he should beware of growing unwanted hair
That leader who sent me to Nyingtri
I will give him bear gall
Because poachers were plentiful in the past
My father found some in the forest
That bear gall
Might make the leader strong like a bear
But he should beware of growing unwanted hair
That leader who sent me to Lhokha
I will give him bear paws
Because poachers were plentiful in the past
My brother found one on the border
That bear paw
Maybe can cure the leader’s alcoholism and cirrhosis
But he should beware of growing unwanted hair
That leader who sent me to Shigatse
I will give him 50,000 Yuan
Because my father is an officer in the army
My mother is the commissioner of this district
50,000 Yuan is not that much
This amount of money
The leader can spend it in an entertainment hall
It will be sufficient
But be careful it doesn’t grow thorns
That leader who sent me to Nagchu
I will give him two yaks
Because my family live on the plains
My father is rich with the wealth of the land
Maybe after the leader has eaten the yaks
His tummy will bulge out
The leader’s spirit will be brighter
But I hope the leader won’t grow any more hair…
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