Visit to China

I entered a different world
Full of color, light and turmoil,
The land of a waking giant
With a bright, ambitious people
Entering the technological age
Of a new global village century
With zest and new ideas,
Pride of workmanship
In their accomplishments,
Starting to combine
The very best aspects of
Capitalism and Socialism,
Slowly but surely,
In a progressive fashion,
Not decadent and indifferent
As the West has become
But competitive and vigorous.

Beware, you men of Western Lands
For Spengler's prediction in 1918
Of the 'Decline of the West' is
Turning into a self fulfilling prophecy
When one sees what speedy progress
The people of the East are making.

Alfred Charasz
Copyright 2009 Alfred Charasz