Monday, April 23, 2018

REFLECTIONS OF A RECENT GUANGZHOU VISIT


Part of the ancestral silk route by the sea, eons ago

Now part of nation’s progress and Chinese ego

Silk gave way to umpteen new merchandise 

It is the new business avenues that it channelize

 
The city spends its energy on economy and eating

Says the brochure, true, people from all over meeting

Buying things made in and around, original and ‘copy’

Meeting low and high aspirations of all the needy

 
Planned out well, ambitiously copying a marque city

Wide roads, multiple metros, abundant electricity

Growing upwards, tall edifices and a CANTON TOWER

Many industry verticals combine here to show the power

 
Modern amenities, fairs and exhibition centres 

Converges buyers of the world in huge numbers

Them come flying in hoards, fill up lodging halls

Each event beating early records by many holes

 
City of Cantonese loving its rich global heritage

With a fertile delta by Pearl river cultivating in acreage

Thousands miles of flow done into South Sea

Rice, corn, millet, fruits and milk all around to see
 

City dwellers, working to strength but lack the zing 

Is there merriment in doing, on the faces does it bring?

Felt it involuntary, are they in motion for its own sake

Or the rulers conjuring it as happiness on the take?

 
Materialism in culture, overshadowing rich tradition?

Everyone behind fast buck and quick satisfaction

Purpose and meaning of living taking the last seat 

Is it, none knows what is in store, thus showing no heat?

 
Now growing into maximum city, powered by industries

And global clients, yet suffering greater uncertainties 

Trade barriers and tariffs, despite ‘open’ economies 

Will future get marred by  induced economic squeeze?
 
 

No comments: