Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Poetry 2017 | Page 130

Walls
St. Margaret's Co-Educational English Secondary and Primary School
(Secondary Section), Wong, Lavigne - 13
Walls, walls and more walls
To defend against cannonballs.
Japanese pirates are attacking us
Ceilings are shaking, dropping dust.
I hear them pounding on our gates
Quick, pour hot oil on them before it's too late.
This time we've won, but don't relax
We never know if they are preparing more attacks.
Centuries have passed, the walls are still there
War gave them scars they forever will bear.
Battle no longer hangs in the air
The walls are removed, it's only fair.
They have been here for a very long time
They need to retire, they're covered in grime.
Right here, the ruins of the walls forever will lie
Telling a story of Old Shanghai.