1 hour ago
Serial Barbarians
Middle Kingdom rounded by other nations
which partake in various ways and portions
of its high imperial culture and when
weak, of its spoils:
Manchus and Mongolians ruled when China
failed and splintered; Japanese also took their
turn at conquest, but without leaving any
trace except hatred.
Each one formed a natural border, desert,
ocean, neighbors shielded by China’s nature:
either land-fast harmony or, in fractured
unity, prey.
Middle Kingdom rounded by other nations
which partake in various ways and portions
of its high imperial culture and when
weak, of its spoils:
Manchus and Mongolians ruled when China
failed and splintered; Japanese also took their
turn at conquest, but without leaving any
trace except hatred.
Each one formed a natural border, desert,
ocean, neighbors shielded by China’s nature:
either land-fast harmony or, in fractured
unity, prey.
Non-practicing atheist