Anarchy

Clean

The red stains could not be washed from the concrete—

The red, red stains that were so discreet.

Neither could the smell of metal be gone

From this square you look upon.

Blood, when spilt, is hard to erase.

And although your memory decays:

You remember Xue Hua, and how she smiled,

And stayed calm, even when they beguiled.

You remember Xue Hua, where names promised peace,

But the thunder of gunshots never did cease...

They played dictator, they waved flags red,

And tried to plant them in everyone's head.

They heard not the millions screaming for voice

And coldly denied them their freedom and choice.

You tried to fight them, sung freedom's song.

But why did you have to bring Xue Hua along...

You remember Xue Hua, and how she fought

Though the tanks were numerous and the sun hot

You remember Xue Hua, how she'll never grow old

For she saved you from being another one cold

You remember Xue Hua, how she fell like hail

But accepted it, never did her arms flail

You remember Xue Hua, where names promised peace

But the thunder of gunshots never did cease

In this square where the blood stains cannot be seen

But this square will never, if ever, be clean.

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AN: 1989 may be more well known as Taylor Swift's new album. But 1989 was also the year of what has been dubbed by the West as the 'Tiananmen Square Massacre'. Protestors gathered in Tiananmen, fighting for democracy. The use of tanks and rifles by the police meant many died. In case you were a bit confused about the poem, this is the event the poem is based on.

Inspiration: Well, I had already written 'Rain'. And I had researched Chairman Mao for my history homework. I thought that I might write more about Chinese history. The first words that came to mind? 'Tiananmen Square'. See above for the rest.