Carr-Malcolm
Alexandra David-Néel
by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

We walked the same walk, along the same path,
the middle one, showing the way.
Travelled beyond the stars, to a life without bars,
no run-of-the-mill protégée.

An affinity to trees, writing anarchist treatise,
both maternally shunned in our prime.
You travelled the world, whilst I stayed at home,
both women misplaced out of time.

Born ninety-seven years and one day before me,
we share more than a Scorpius sting.
Through our Buddhist eyes, we gazed on the world,
with opera and poetry we sing.

PHOTO: (Left) Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, aged 19; (right) Alexandra David-Néel, 19th Century.

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: Alexandra David-Néel was a colourful character who was born on 24th October 1868. She was a Belgian-French explorer, opera singer, anarchist, spiritualist, Buddhist, and writer. Not only did she meet the 13th Dalai-Lama, but she also managed to visit Tibet when entry to Tibet was forbidden to foreigners. She often travelled in the guise of beggars or pilgrims. Her teachings influenced the beat writers Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Alexandra Carr-Malcolm was born and raised in Chesterfield, Derbyshire (United Kingdom). She now lives in Yorkshire and works as a freelance British Sign Language Interpreter within the Yorkshire region. Alex has been featured in five collaborative anthologies by Dagda Publishing where part of the proceeds is donated to worthy charities. Her first anthology Tipping Sheep (the right way) was released in 2013. Her second anthology, Counting Magpies, was released in October 2015. Her poems can be found on her blog: www.worldlywinds.com.