Xi’an: Great Wall in the Middle of the City

A couple of ducks casually stand on a slab of eroding rock

Of the great wall that was built 1115 years ago;

From Tang Dynasty’s antique lanterns with golden spikes

To today’s LED lights that brighten the city with the same shade of gold

The wall connects the two quarters.

One that beams with skyscrapers and echoes when the bell tower strikes 12;

Another crowded with tourists, craving some authentic Muslim food.

One with briefcases, white collars, and non-stop metro;

Another tranquil underground dungeon

Where the Terracotta Army was buried with the first ever emperor of China.

Across the great wall is the Wild Goose Pagoda

Its four edges pointing at the sky with pride

At its history surviving earthquakes, wars, and collapses of facades.

Its ashes still managed to reform into concrete,

Concretely standing tall, representing Xi’an.

The yellow river meandered

Thousands of years ago,

Unintentionally created the first trace of humankind here in China,

Here in BanPo,

A place of civilization.

The Silk road started here

Empires were defeated here

Monks came here

To seek for the spirit of Buddhism.

The ducks are still here,

Quacking without knowing how much the city has been through.

©️ Written by Michelle YuXin Wang 王裕昕; Edited by SuYin Chen 陈素茵