The Emperor of Qin

The Emperor had swept the world of his foes,
Looking around like a tiger he rose.
He broke the floating clouds while wielding swords,
Westward to pay their homage came all lords.
He made great plans and formed decisions wise,
In front of him all heroes dwarfed in size.
He melted weapons into statues of brass,
And opened to the East the frontier pass.
He built a monument on Eastern Hill,
And rode to Southern Tower to gaze his fill.
He worked seven hundred thousand slaves
To build in deep mountain recess his graves.
He sought elixir of immortality,
These contradictory deeds puzzle me.
He bent his bow to shoot the monster whale
Sweeping the sea with its enormous tail.
Its head and nose erect’d like mountains proud,
And water spouted like thunder and cloud.
Its dorsal fin might cover azure sky.
Could seamen find the Fairy Islands high?
The alchemist with maidens went to sea.
When could their galleys come back? We but see
Buried in underworld, the ashes cold
Of Emperor of Qin in coffin made of gold!