In China, twenty million died during the 19th century Taiping Rebellion while being plagued by the Opium Wars; the Arrow War; the Boxer Rebellion and World War II with additional millions lost. During Mao's time, forty million more died.
While a twenty-five
Hundred year
Empire crumbled,
The Emperor
And his brothers
Found solace
Behind high walls
And sturdy gates
Hidden among narrow lanes
Cut off from reality
Among Koi,
Willow
And water—
Going deaf;
Hearing only
What they wanted to hear,
Poetry.
A wall of
Advisors and secret service agents
Circle America’s President and
The White House too
With gardeners working.
Did the Roman and British Empires
Take the same well traveled path?
____________________________________
Very relevant, Lloyd, the deafness and disconnect of the powerful and elite...
"Cut off from reality
Among Koi,
Willow
And water"
and that fine question at the end pointing to the cyclical pattern throughout history. Do all empires implode rather than explode, too self-concerned to survive? Fine serious point of view.
John
Answer: Probably. And the path probably started with the Egyptians.
Or Mesopotamians, even. It's the rare leader who sits down with the
"people" he suppoedly leads. Etcetera. -gene.
Experience the early 20th century in Michigan's Upper Peninsula through the artistic camera lens of J.W. Nara, one of the Copper Country's earliest professional photographers. This collection of historic photos brings the "Copper Boom" era back to li
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"Cut off from reality
Among Koi,
Willow
And water"
and that fine question at the end pointing to the cyclical pattern throughout history. Do all empires implode rather than explode, too self-concerned to survive? Fine serious point of view.
John
Or Mesopotamians, even. It's the rare leader who sits down with the
"people" he suppoedly leads. Etcetera. -gene.