While candles of Shanghai gleamed on <br />Sang her one hero, destiny's passionate orison <br />Whence melodious chimes proclaim bleakest day <br />With those thick lotus-blooms the Winter winds play <br /> <br />In Empress Wu Ze Tian's unique coronet she weareth <br />An ancient satue in her arms she beareth <br />With her low, tender gesture of mystery <br />She telleth Gorbachev the unrequited history <br /> <br />The deep weather, and nuns singing, and butterflies flying <br />We have painted a dock that is not for Love's throwing <br />And interested in white horses with a royal wage <br />And we have passed by the patriotic heritage <br /> <br />Touched stars, jewels and cheeks, all those are ended <br />Slumber and waking, adored, vanished proudly friended <br />No mockeries now for students; no prayers nor bells <br />Nor any sound of evening lead the Wagnerian choirs<br /><br />Ahmad Shiddiqi<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/ode-2-2/
