GHOST ( 3 )

GHOST ( 3 )

Rise up, Mao
Said
A voice from belo'

He did
Looked around
Found maps
Hooded jacket
And gloves

Down below
Buried with him
Like the Pharaohs
Sixty
Centuries before him

Looked for Peking
Found it
Went down town

Got a new map
But could not
Locate Peking

Did not know
Peking is now
Called Bejing

With tall dazzling
Sky scrappers
Ascending into the skies

Went to a village
And wept
When he saw
Peasants desolate
With eyes vacant

Looking at him
With open arms
Or accusing fingers

He could tell
The peasants were
Impoverished
Their lives dire

Let a thousand
Flowers bloom
Was all doom and gloom

Technological advance
Is great
Zoom passed
The fastest train
Mao asked himself,
What was that?
Was it a rocket
Or a train?

Went to
The city centre
Saw glitter
Lights

Went nearer
Discovered
Was a mansion
Of a billionaire

Mao said
Peasants
Are impoverished
Poverty and famine
Multiplied

He asked
Where is the China
I loved & cherished?

He hurried forward
Wept again
Finally said

Let a thousand
Flowers bloom
Is now definitely
Doom and gloom

But someone said
Our economy
Is great & dynamic

America owes
Us billions

Mao, replied
In his robust style

Who owns all
These monies?

The proletariat
Is gone and dusted

The peasants are
Very much impoverished

It is only millionaires
And billionaires
Benefiting
From these expensive
Life’s accessories

He angrily blurted
I wish
Did not wake up

Hope it was a dream
Wire me up
Let me blow
Myself up

And think
Of old glorious
China
Now dark & bleak

Thus Mao
Was no more
But still remains
To some
Very much a hero