The Beach And The Empire Poem by Charlotte Peters Rock

It was this way
The guns of The Empire were placed
bristling outwards in Lion City
at the bottom of a continent
to repel the small invaders
from the rising sun

They came ashore silently at night
Wading gratefully in through gentle water
Grouping with the crabs beneath mangroves
out of the light of the rising moon
at the top of a country and a fading Empire

The Beach of Passionate Love
lay beaten as their boots marched on
looting raping torturing Malays
but saving the worst for silent enduring Chinese
and the big men of The Empire
Left as pawns in Lion City
Losers in the game of chess

Half a century beyond
The Empire crumbled into dust
below the sun rising on a richer day

Along the straight white sand
jewels in a muslim crown
stand on the Beach of Passionate Love
covered heads and hearts against the sun
Like brilliant birds of passage
Watching children flying kites
Considering the coolness of the water

96Aug1996 CPR