Third Place Junior Poetry

Tom Tang

Duchess Park Secondary

Romance of the Three Kingdoms

In China, during the Han dynasty,
There was no food for the poor and needy;
Farmers would work without end in the burning heat
But to no avail; to nature they admit defeat.

Men would die and rot to the bone,
While the emperor trifled on his throne.
Amidst turmoil of the empire’s corruption,
Came the peoples’ Yellow Turban Rebellion.

They robbed from the rich as the poor joined hands
To join the rebellion as the cities burned to sand.
“Overthrow the emperor!” they said as millions recruit,
And with that in mind, they marched down the capital’s route.

The emperor, in panic, called forth his army,
To help and preserve the Han dynasty.
Millions would fight, for what they believe;
Thousands would die, falling like autumn leaves.

The rebellion was stopped, the leader was slain,
The stench of blood and war lifted in the rain.
Many had fought, but two in entire,
Plans were in conscience, to conquer the empire.

South occupied Liu Bei, kingdom of Shu,
Wise and righteous was he, and followers grew.
Cao Cao occupied the northern plain;
“Kingdom Wei’s where I’ll remain.”

Sun Quan was dominating the kingdom Wu,
Ea st of the Yellow River, opposite of Shu.
His land transcended four generations;
He began plans of domination.

The kingdoms fought over a number of years.
Women would bid farewell to husbands in tears.
Days would then pass and campaigns were set;
Generals would fall, as warriors were met.

Wei’s Xiahou Dun lay siege on a garrison,
Only to find his army small in comparison.
Wu’s archers drew their bows, and arrows would scold
From the sky they poured like rain, eternally retold.

In the chaos of petrified men, minutes turned eons.
Xiahou Dun called retreat and sent for his peons.
Suddenly, he took an arrow that fell from the sky;
He pulled out the arrow, burrowed in his eye.

The battle raged on, and Shu began to crumble.
Lui Bei sat in misery as thunder began to rumble.
He sought help and council from across Shu’s lands
And found Shu’s fate lying within strategist Zhuge’s hands.

He found his victory with Zhuge Liang’s wisdom.
Slowly, they won and expanded their kingdom.
Wu joined Shu to hasten defeat of Cao Cao’s Wei,
But their efforts would end in utter dismay.

Guan Yu of Shu, once saved by Cao Cao,
A man of honor, he spared him at the gate of Lao.
Soon, Cao Cao would profit from his luck;
He celebrated his fortune with a roasted duck.

The wheels of history began to turn;
Shu and Wu’s large cities started to burn.
Wei brought forth a new empire;
Cao Cao’s son ruled the world entire.

Eventually his general Sima Yi would overthrow
And watch his new land grow and grow.
From three kingdoms to the unification of one kingdom -
This was the story of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.