The Great Wall Of China Poem by Deanna Samuels

Deanna Samuels - Reminiscences - November 2022.

A thirty-year bucket list wish was to visit, walk on The Great Wall of China.
That opportunity occurred when joined small group in November 2015.
A planned, guided trip to China, with visits and tours of Beijing, Shanghai
Suzhou and Hangzhou, including The Great Wall of China.
Staying in Beijing for a number of days, took in The Forbidden City and
Tiananmen Square, the huge square, filled with tourists, mingled in groups.
Crowds lined up quietly to see mummified body of Mau Tse Tung
while his large portrait oversaw The Square from wall of Forbidden City.
The scheduled day for visit to The Great Wall arrived, about an hour away, north.
Visibility was hazy, but cleared a little driving through the expanse of suburbs.
The scene became hillier and more mountainous approaching destination
and views of The Great Wall could be seen straddling up and across the terrain.
It already felt like a magical scene, something one heard about, seen documentaries
but to be there, within touching distance, fulfilling long standing dream - overwhelming.
Bus parked at Juyong Pass at foot of Great Wall, some tourist facilities, cafes, shops.
Advised we had a window of two hours to explore, see and climb The Great Wall.
Only two hours! So much to see, so much to discover, so much to understand -
a man-made structure built in sections over a long period of time of many dynasties,
gradually melding together forming northern fortification 6,352 kms long.
Countless thousands died building Wall, their bodies thrown betwixt the two sides.
As a graveyard, respect for those who gave their lives still given by local populace.
At one time, one third of the whole Chinese population were involved in Wall's building.
Erosion over the centuries has taken its toil, much of The Great Wall is in dilapidation,
except for where tourists visit, with reconstruction and repairs being carried out.
A steep flight of stairs led to the first level, stopping to look around at the lower scene.
Juyong Pass section of Wall is built up the mountain, and long, steep stairs to climb.
Putting best foot forward, gradually rose higher and higher on this rugged flight
helped by the handrail to be able to pull oneself up and over the highest of steps.
Each climber, young or old - many old - slowly climbed to the first look-out level.
Huffing and puffing, but getting there, I too, looked out around and about me.
The misty haze of earlier day, little changed, but possible to see further away hills,
The Great Wall continuing to stretch over the mountains and beyond into horizon.
Far below were the tourist area, other Great Wall fortifications and old barracks.
One interesting aspect of wall, higher on the defense side to deter enemy attacks.
Completely satisfied had achieved my ambition - to walk on the Great Wall of China,
took photos of scene, of me on the steps, slowly descended the long flight down.