Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Poetry 2019 | Page 104

The Last Days of Zheng He
West Island School, Lee, Seren - 13
I was born in Yunnan in 1371 from a Muslim family
My grandfather and my father were the leaders of the Mongol Yuan dynasty
However, when the Ming dynasty rose I was enslaved to one of the princes
I made seven grand voyages to show the glory and power of the Ming Emperor Yongle
On my first voyage, I reached Calicut in India
On my second voyage, I sent 68 ships to Calicut to join the ceremony of the new king
On my third voyage, I fought a small kingdom and brought the king to China
On my fourth voyage, I journeyed further to Hormuz on the Persian Gulf
On my fifth voyage, I went to the Red Sea and the East coasts of Africa
On my sixth voyage, I travelled again to return nineteen ambassadors to their home lands
On my seventh and final voyage, I travelled the seas with more than a hundred ships
I have always loved the seas and the adventures it has given
I have fought pirates and kings and seen the great treasures of the lands
From slave to commander I have risen in status but I have never stopped to wonder of the outside world
At age 62 I died in 1433 but I desired more, I wanted to go further
So I am buried in the waters to travel once more
I am Zheng He and my adventure still continues