Visit to Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall

Oodgeroo Noonuccal

Guangzhou, October 2, 1984

“Curtain going up”

Echoes and re-echoes

Through the theatre.

The ghosts from the past

Push past me

In the dim lit hall.

Lu Yenghi[1] stands

At the back of the theatre,

With arms folded,

Eyes to the ceiling

Of the exquisite dome

He created,

Many, many moons ago.

The past and present

Unite within my mind

And I spare a moment

to dream the impossible.

I am standing on the stage

Presenting a poetry recital.

The hall is packed

And I am in my element.

The spirits of the past

Are applauding my efforts.

[1] Hall architect.