Here is a poem by Zachary Downie. He is a 14 year old Australian expat and currently studying at West Island School in Hong Kong. Zac is Robyn Youl’s Grandson and has written a poem about the region of Hong Kong known as Kowloon and the legend and history behind it.
1278,
There was a boy called Bing, he was 8.
He had just been crowned emperor of a doomed dynasty.
We see a boy, his subjects saw a dragon.
His subjects saw mountains, he saw fellow dragons.
He saw 8 dragons;
He saw 8 friends;
He saw 8 guardians to help him rule his kingdom.
He spoke to them:
First, P’u-Lao, my noble protector;
Alert me to danger.
Second, Ch’iu-Niu, I need music in my court;
You are my musician.
Third, Pi-Has, my lucky scholar;
Help me to learn, my friend.
Sometimes, I am lonely;
Stand by me, Pa-Hsia, in times of need.
My guardian, Chao-Feng;
Watch all that is holy: my temples and my lands.
Kublai Khan draws closer;
Douse the flames of war, Chih Wen.
Suan-Ni, keep my subjects at my side;
Keep my courtiers loyal, keep my soldiers strong.
Yai-Tzu, I am only 8 and yet I lead my people into battle;
Protect me from harm, or at least don’t let it hurt too much.
And I, Pi-Kau;
I will listen to my subjects.
I will settle their quarrels.
I will hear them and sometimes listen.
I am 8, I can do this.
1279,
Kublai Khan had won.
Bing’s dynasty is defeated.
His loyal general, Lu Xiufu, picked up the boy and leapt into the sea.
An honourable death for a boy who named a city.
Kowloon, today;
8 mountains guard a sleeping boy:
The 9th dragon.
Wow Zac I loved your poem. I note that your are 14 years old so my message as an older person is keep writing!!
Your poem painted a picture in my mind of a vulnerable yet strong boy, a leader who left the world too young.
Thanks for sharing a touching historical story in your poem Zachary 🙂