The Great Wall of China

High up in the mountains,

Shrouded in mist,

The path goes on,

Slowly curving,

And twisting out of view

Hidden by fog,

Revealing itself

Bit by bit

As you proceed.

Grayish bricks,

Old and worn,

Crumbling at the edges

Placed side by side

And then stacked up

Supporting the weight

Of centuries of feet

Walking along them.

A majestic sight,

Large and imposing,

Towering over the land,

Looming as you approach.

Against the horizon,

A shadowed form

Stretching on and on.

The stillness in the air

The sense of being

In an ancient,

Isolated place

Retracing the steps

Once trod by watchmen

Warily looking for signs

Of unseen enemies approaching.

The guard towers,

Once strong and tall

Now crumbling away

Before our eyes.

Gaps in the rows of bricks,

Signs of wear

On a long-used monument.

A lasting reminder

Of a past

That can never be forgotten.