The Forbidden City - A quartet ...................... (Part 1) The Gate of Heavenly Peace

In the thick of the somber night
while the chamberlains
the chambermaids
the cooks
even the eunuchs
and the concubines
while the whole land
slept

The child king is wide awake and dreams

In his long narrow bed
he lies and dreams

of a more freer place 

beyond the palace  walls

even beyond the great wall

to follow a shooting star to the end of the land 

to see the flying fish leap

glistening in the moon light 

to hear the mermaid songs 

The ministers are gathering outside the gate 

in their gowns

with their red  lanterns 

awaiting the great bell to ring 

to be allowed through
to the next gate

A  young girl

the 53th wife of  Guangxu
wonders of her fate 

in centuries to come
of the man
who will lead
an army of red ants
through the gates
and oust an emperor 

set a cricket free of his golden cage

And one day
whose picture
will be hung over

The Gate of Heavenly Peace.