Love this guy’s stuff, not many people could capture in a single line the essence of the Famine of ’58 to ’61 which left 30 to 40 million dead (about 1/4 of whome were young girls, they were allowed to starve first due to traditionally having less ‘value’ in Chinese culture), often with none left living to bury them. And during which people ate grass, tree bark, and even their own children…
From the page: “MAO’S LEGACY: A NEW CHINA
R. Hu
China has a history, not often told;
New China is more than fifty years old.
He led the Long March, in the fall of ’34;
He ended many years, of civil war.
Mao Zedong was the greatest leader China ever had,
Yet he made many decisions that were very bad.
Mao revolutionized China, and made it new;
Resisted the Japanese, in World War Two.
War, however, would eventually cease;
Mao’s reign had little peace.
The war in Korea, much to China’s expense;
The purpose of it was for its own defense.
Even today, they don’t regret;
He thought the U.N. would be threat!
That was the beginning, there’s more you see;
Stalin died in ’53!
China’s communism had grown very deep;
In ’58 there was a Great Leap!
He formed communes, in every town;
From there on, Mao stepped down.
There was much conflict; it was very crude;
For while, China had no food.
Mao lost support; it was near his end;
The Soviets were no longer a friend.
Yet China continued, to create more and more;
They developed The Bomb, in ’64!
’66 marked the start of ten years;
The Cultural Revolution, left many tears!
Some diplomats came, but very few;
Richard Nixon came in ’72!
Eventually, China and other cultures began to mix;
Mao Zedong finally died, in ’76.
Flags were placed at half staff, they say;”
(continues on site)
