This was how she began...
Crossing the river
Executors realign
At the northern most altar.
The boy Emperor aspires, takes marble treads
As the magnifications
Become son and splendour.
They pluck hibiscus flowers.
A slightly built flute of smoke,
An air of vigils to Heaven.
The new-made Monarch
Supplies a jade amulet
A ripple of silk.
This is like the other fairy tails.
Carafes of bidding-prayer wine,
A scroll underlaying milk-breath tidings
Which he unriddles.
Always fretting.
The Seal Of State's puffed up to Kuan Yin.
Wood ignites the flame of the shrine.
Monks offer an immaculate bull
With open hand to Time the enemy.
Till we are grown old...
She levels more peat on the fire
And the newssheet from the gongs of China
Becomes ruby, hot.
I sleep with dust in my eyes.
Christopher Barnes
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