–Mao Zedong, February 1936 Behold the northern land’s grand view:A thousand leagues locked in ice and frost,Ten thousand leagues where snowflakes lostIn whirling flight the sky bestrew.Great Wall stretches far, beyond and near;One vast white waste alone appears.The Yellow River’s mighty tideFrom source to sea is stilled, dried.Mountains like silver serpents glide;Plains like waxen…
–Mao Zedong – October 1935 The sky so high, clouds thin and light,We watch wild geese fly south out of sight.None but a hero reaches the Great Wall;We count – twenty thousand li we’ve hauled.On Six Coiled Mountain’s crest so tall,Red flags stream wide in western wind’s call.Long cords in our hands today we…