‘The Brave Souls of Autumn’ by Rachel Chen

An autumn breeze blows swiftly through the air,
And plucks the tree leaves from their humble roots.
Amidst the cold a group stands in the square,
Its people warmly dressed in hats and boots.

Each face is filled with peace and harmony,
As soothing music drifts throughout the sky.
Their movements look so tranquil and serene,
Behind each person faith that cannot die.

Their exercise is suddenly cut short,
When men in black come storming through the crowd.
They shout with anger, “Orders from the court!”
The mood is shadowed by a stormy cloud.

These followers of Falun Gong are hurt,
Though facing persecution, tall they stand.
Throughout their suffering they stay alert,
They take it all and never raise a hand.

The victims send their thoughts forth righteously,
In hopes that they can all one day be free.

Rachel Chen is a student at Fei Tian Academy of the Arts, in Upstate New York.

Featured Image: A Falun Gong practice site in Guangzhou, China, in the 1990s, before the practice was banned there in July, 1999.

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