Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Poetry 2019 | Page 106

The Queen
Carmel School Association Elsa High School, Hasofer, Dan - 14
Leaving the fragrant harbour of Xiang Gang,
I wave goodbye. In my heart, I feel love and respect,
I have been selected for this, the sixth voyage, sent to explore the world,
See special sights, do special things, aboard the Ming Treasure Fleet.
I have been sent to do my part, and serve the Emperor,
I can and I will; winning my place as a great explorer in history.
Ever since I was a little boy, I dreamed of travelling the seas,
I, Hua Long Xia, am the captain of the ship, “childhood dream”.
My dream is the Emperor’s wish. Whatever may come my way, I shall face,
Whether it be battles with armies, attacks from pirates, or the harshest of storms,
All is to be overcome, on this adventure of the seas,
Laden with gold, silk, and precious gifts, I pray I will find the Emperor a worthy queen.
I battle the harsh winds and the battering waves,
They smash the sides of our childhood dream ,
The wind whistles in my ear, she whispers, “you will fail”,
But I have an aim, a thriving ambition - I will find my worthy queen.
I rush to the wheel, and yank on the ropes,
We crash into waves unrelenting,
I fear we may not make it, but I have a dream,
I cling to my childhood dream and find the Emperor’s queen.
Many harsh dangerous days and nights go by,
We near an island, its coast long and coloured luscious green,
With its calming aura, its waters and skies crystal clear,
I am reminded of my fragrant harbour, my Emperor, my China.
As we grow closer, I see things described only in fairytales,
There are animals that have never been imagined,
One is yellow, and tall with a long neck, one is four-legged and strong with a beard,
There are elegant groups of trees and exotic fish in the seas.
My senses are overpowered, I am intoxicated,
We land, my fellow explorers and I rush in,
It’s enormous, I fall head over heels, running, searching,
I am proud, exploring for the Emperor and for China.
I stumble upon a magical creature, I am struck down by her beauty,
Helplessly I watch her by the river, bathing,
She is strong, her golden skin shining under the canopy of the trees,
Her beauty is a revelation - is she the Emperor’s queen?
I am scared, she sees me and I run,
She chases me, and she catches me,
I am fearful of her, yet I am perplexed as to why,
In all this confusion, we tumble down a steep hill, and she holds me tight.
When finally we stop, I feel at peace, a rush of love and humanity
The two of us, together in the thick, tall savanna grass,
Her mystique is her beauty, she has become my queen
I feel a divine betrayal to my Emperor, I collapse.