Milarepa the siddha

I have often wondered

how one can stand apart from history

and observe it,

like some specimen trembling

under the scientist’s supervening eye.

it seems altogether counterproductive, not unlike building castles with quicksand,

to remove traces of yourself from

what you are making.

Like a cake, history does not bake itself;

Its dough is shaped by human hands

and crumbles into human mouths

craving human nourishment.

The baker is a maker, like all men

And they who make history

write deeds with sword,

or better yet, the pen.