Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Poetry 2019 | Page 22

Across the Seven Seas
Diocesan Preparatory School, Chan, Yan Kiu - 11
Long, long ago, in a certain dynasty;
Where pirates roamed the endless Seven Seas;
Sails fluttered up masts of a fearless fleet,
Destined to link among countries,
On each ship carried silk and gold,
Sending gifts to foreign places,
Determined through misty sea against hostile armies.
Courageous, yet careful, into the unknown,
Hoping to return, alive, not alone.
1)
The fleet’s first voyage across the seas,
Was among the ports of many countries,
Vietnam, Indonesia, Malacca too,
Nicobar Islands, Calicut and lots of new views!
Although they found Sri Lanka hostile,
They soon retreated safely awhile.
Back to China, with tributes and envoys,
Fierce pirates the fleet destroyed,
All were safe then on the journey return,
But the unknown had much more for them to learn!
2)
The fleet set sail once again,
To send gifts back to their domain;
Sailing as far as Sri Lanka, attempting to land,
Stopping in Champa, Java and Thailand.
The armada collected fresh tribute,
Then turned right back for another long route.
Again, the fleet sailed into the unknown,
Hoping to return, alive, not alone.
3)
Across the seas the fleet set again,
On their most ambitious journey to date,
Through Arabia, Africa, ports at Muscat,
To bring back exotic gifts and freight.
But soon then some bad news came,
The admiral’s friend and sponsor had met his fate.
The successor ordered an end to all journeys,
Would this be the end of the fleet’s odysseys?