‘Ride to Freedom’ and Other Poetry by Evan Mantyk

In support of the national youth bike ride, Ride 2 Freedom.

Ride to Freedom

Riding, riding, riding fast,
There can be no time to spare

When the present becomes the past
All that’s left is the heart that dares!

Flying, flying, flying wheels
That soar across seas and world

To a land where Hatred’s head reels,
From its mouth, propaganda’s hurled!

Quickly, quickly, quickly save
Children who are victimized,

Working as a labor camp slave,
Orphaned, tortured, criminalized!

Freedom, freedom, freedom flies
From the spokes that make us strong,

Crushing state censorship and lies,
Revealing peaceful Falun Gong!

Virtue, virtue, virtue reigns,
Truth, Compassion, Forbearance,*

No price can be put on the pains,
When you make such a difference!

*”Zhen-Shan-Ren”: These are the three main principles of Falun Gong and can be translated in various ways.

Are You Going to Tiananmen Square?

After Simon and Garfunkle’s “Scarborough Fair”
Written with Katy Mantyk

Are you going to Tiananmen Square,
Peaceful, sage, tranquil, and sublime,
To appeal the injustice there?
We will bring back hope to mankind.

When she arrives there the smog seems to part.
The grandmother has traveled many days;
Sun beams blast into the red beast’s dark heart,
For her will is a diamond-like array.

We will make a clarion sign,
Peaceful, sage, tranquil, and sublime,
A banner with letters that shine,
Then, we’ll bring back hope to mankind.

Her blood flows as the bamboo stick is jabbed
And the soft fingernail is torn away,
No matter how deep, her soul can’t be stabbed;
For her will is a diamond-like array.

Traveling on foot across the land,
Peaceful, sage, tranquil, and sublime,
Worn out shoe soles and heart in hand,
Then, we’ll bring back hope to mankind.

Myriad lights and majestic colors
Open to a palace in the Heavens;
She joins the Angels and Buddhas in scores.

Beaten and tortured, we won’t bow,
Peaceful, sage, tranquil, and sublime,
We’ll tell them “Falun Dafa Hao!”*
Then, we’ll bring back hope to mankind.

*”Falun Dafa Hao” means “Falun Dafa is Good.” Falun Dafa is another name for Falun Gong.

Evan Mantyk is an English teacher living in New York.