Zhangjiajie

Pillars projecting upwards
etching clouds on azure sky.
Quartzite pinnacles poking
up from verdant forest carpet
when viewed from above.
Dove trees, with delicate handkerchief flowers
vie with the gnarled, twisted, wind-sculpted
immense growth that in minute versions
remind one of Bonsai trees.
Traverse the First Bridge of the World
to view down, down to
Heavenly Pillar,
called Avatar Hallelujah Mountain.
One can easily imagine
winged serpents swooping
between the storm-wizened towers.

Near the Platform of Lost Souls, mists swirl
in platinum wisps;
celestial citadels floating on a tumultuous sea
of wind-whipped waves where pearl crashes
into swirls of marengo and indigo.
'Spirit Soldiers Gathering'
parade in formation down below--
forty-eight spires
in eternal stance.
Moments before dusk,
the sun lashes last rays leaving
whip-marks of saffron aganst the
rocky keep of cliff.
Photographer's Elysium,
Writer's Ecstasy.
Essence of a Dream.




32 lines

Prompt for: Feb 3 (Ren)
Subject or Theme: China -something about China - the country: what it is like or some aspect of China. Perhaps about something to see in China.
Word(s) to Include: at least six colors - but not the simple: red, green, blue, yellow, purple, white or black. be creative in your use of colors (ie: 'blue-green' would NOT be acceptable!), essence (or any derivatives of these words)
Forbidden Word(s): China, wall, dragon, rice, Mandarin, temple, mountain (or any derivatives of these words)
Additional Parameters: Use the place as the title of your poem. If the name of the place contains a 'forbidden word, it is OKAY to use it in the title, but nowhere else. Any type of poetry is fine, but the poem MUST be at least 24 lines long.
Remember, do not use forbidden words ANYWHERE, including title or the brief description.