Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Poetry 2019 | Page 133

O, China, Emperor of the Waves
West Island School, Lam, Winston - 15
O China, emperor of the waves,
We were in awe of thy strength.
Having sailed the world far and wide,
From Nanking, of heaven’s blessings,
where thy ships sprung to life.
Seven mighty journeys thy hath made;
Honourable Zheng He at the helm.
Thou truly did, six centuries past,
Make thy voice be heard
across the ocean.
O China, emperor of the waves,
The sea’s edges did thou meet.
With gold and silver as thy gifts,
Did thy reach the coast of Ceylon,
Malacca, Persia and Africa.
At times thy had to battle bandits,
Who lusted for thy riches or power.
But thy always proved thyself tough,
And beat them back to their place
with military might unforeseen.
O China, emperor of the waves,
What treasures thou broughtest home.
In trade of thy riches, thou received
Spices, jewels, beasts from exotica,
Treasures, unique yet stunning.
Not only did gems flow from thy boats,
But a diplomat too were thee.
In spite of thy dominance over the sea,
Thy made treaties with foreign nations;
Executed those who challenged thee.
O China, emperor of the waves,
Thy influence forever felt.
Established thyself as great explorers of Earth,
Across the ocean thy monuments stand -
Such as a stele of three tongues at Galle.
O China, emperor of the waves,
Still are we in awe of your strength.