 |
|
Armored
Charioteer
Photo © 2017
Jennifer Wagner
|
Holding
the reins
of
dynasty,
the
red spread,
conquering
until
conquered,
in
mercurial endings—
buried
and
forgotten
with
the bones
of
their makers, their lips
like
tombs.
© 2017 Jennifer
Wagner
Notes:
I
recently toured the fascinating Terracotta Army of the First Emperor of China
display in Seattle. Thousands of the
life-size clay soldiers, each with unique characteristics, were buried with the
Emperor. They were discovered in 1974
and are an epic archaeological find.
Emperor
Qin consumed mercury in hopes of preventing his death which is believed to have
hastened it. He also had rivers of
flowing mercury installed in his tomb. Laborers
who helped build Qin’s tomb complex were buried in it for secrecy regarding its
location and treasures within.
 |
|
High-Ranking
General
Photo © 2017
Jennifer Wagner
|
 |
|
Kneeling and
Standing Archers
Photo © 2017
Jennifer Wagner
|
You wrote such an incredible poem. Describing every detail with good imagery.
ReplyDeleteAs I read this...it reminded me of the movie: The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. The Emperor Qin's Tomb is fascinating.
Indeed an epic archeological find. I was fortunate to see a display of it as well.
ReplyDeleteFascinating - thanks for the narration. Re-reading it, it is perfect.
ReplyDeleteThat is so intriguing and what an adventure it must have been to visit. Great poem and form. Greetings.
ReplyDeleteInspiring words of the inspired
ReplyDeleteMy goodness, Jennifer, you can make anything into a (thought-provoking, inspired) poem! well done.
ReplyDeleteA fascinating and edifying post. I enjoyed the photographs and note - and the poem is perfect.
ReplyDeleteGlad I was not a Chinese laborer in a previous life!
ReplyDeleteBefore I'd seen the previous comments here, I, too, thought of the word "fascinating" to describe this story you tell so well.
ReplyDeletemy great grandfather, CT Wang, was a senior minister in Chiang Kai-Shek's government, beginning in 1911, until the Reds won, and he took to exile in Hong Kong. And now... something spreads, like mercury, throughout our world ~
ReplyDelete