Located near the Tang capital city of Chang’an, site of the modern city of Xi’an in Shaanxi province, in central China.
This will close in 0<'/span> seconds
Soldiers of that time commonly wore a white head cloth, similar to what is still worn by some peasants in China today. The implication is that the conscripts were so young that they didn’t know how to wrap their head cloths, and needed help from elders.
This will close in 0<'/span> seconds
Before China’s unification under the Qin dynasty in 221 B.C. there were several competing smaller kingdoms. Han and Qin were two of these kingdoms. Han was located east of famous mountain passes that separated that area from the power base of the Qin dynasty, with its capital in Chang’an. The Qin dynasty itself only lasted about 15 years after unification due to its draconian rule, but soldiers under Qin rule retained a reputation as strong fighters.
This will close in 0<'/span> seconds
The area of Guanxi, meaning “west of the passes”, refers to the area around the capital city of Chang’an.
This will close in 0<'/span> seconds
This is an alternative name for a province in western China, now known as Qinghai, which literally means “blue sea”. Kokonor Lake, located in Qinghai, is the largest saline lake in China.
This will close in 0<'/span> seconds
Before China’s unification under the Qin dynasty in 221 B.C. there were several competing smaller kingdoms. Han and Qin were two of these kingdoms. Han was located east of famous mountain passes that separated that area from the power base of the Qin dynasty, with its capital in Chang’an. The Qin dynasty itself only lasted about 15 years after unification due to its draconian rule, but soldiers under Qin rule retained a reputation as strong fighters.
This will close in 0<'/span> seconds
Oulart Hollow was the site of a famous victory of the Irish rebels over British troops, which took place on May 27, 1798. The rebels killed nearly all the British attackers in this battle. (Source: Maxwell, W. H. History of the Irish Rebellion in 1798. H. H. Bohn, London 1854, pp 92-93, at archive.org)
This will close in 0<'/span> seconds
The phrase "United Men" is elaborated upon in the Notes section below.
This will close in 0<'/span> seconds
Ghetto
An Italian word meaning “foundry.” It originally referred to a part of the city of Venice where the Jews of that city were forced to live; the area was called “the ghetto” because there was a foundry nearby. The term eventually came to refer to any part of a city in which a minority group is forced to live as a result of social, legal, or economic pressure. Because of the restrictions placed upon them, ghetto residents are often impoverished.
This will close in 0<'/span> seconds
"You’re five nine, I am do-uble two"
A reference to the year 1959 and the year 2020.
This will close in 0<'/span> seconds
"The Currency"
Meaning US dollars - this is drawing attention to the fact that Cuba is effectively dollarized.
This will close in 0<'/span> seconds
"Sixty years with the dom-ino stuck"
This sentence is a reference to the Cold War notion that countries would turn Communist one after the other - like dominos. Cuba was the first domino, but it got stuck - no one else followed through into communism.
This will close in 0<'/span> seconds
رحلنا
رحلنا, or "rahalna," means "we have left."
This will close in 0<'/span> seconds
Habibi
Habibi means "my love."
This will close in 0<'/span> seconds
Ra7eel
Ra7eel, or "raheel," means "departure."
This will close in 0<'/span> seconds
3awda
3awda, or "awda," means "returning."
This will close in 0<'/span> seconds
أهلاً
أهلاً, or "ahalan," means "welcome."
This will close in 0<'/span> seconds
a5 ya baba
a5 ya baba, pronounced "akh ya baba," means "Oh my father."
This will close in 0<'/span> seconds
golpe
Treece translates "golpe" as "beating", which is correct, however misses the secondary meaning of the word: "coup".
This will close in 0<'/span> seconds
Carlos
The “Carlos” referred to in the poem is most likely Carlos Bolsonaro, a politician from Rio de Janeiro and the second son of Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s current president. His and his father’s involvement in Marielle’s murder has been questioned and investigated.
This will close in 0<'/span> seconds
This is an alternative name for a province in western China, now known as Qinghai, which literally means “blue sea”. Kokonor Lake, located in Qinghai, is the largest saline lake in China.
The area of Guanxi, meaning “west of the passes”, refers to the area around the capital city of Chang’an.
Before China’s unification under the Qin dynasty in 221 B.C. there were several competing smaller kingdoms. Han and Qin were two of these kingdoms. Han was located east of famous mountain passes that separated that area from the power base of the Qin dynasty, with its capital in Chang’an. The Qin dynasty itself only lasted about 15 years after unification due to its draconian rule, but soldiers under Qin rule retained a reputation as strong fighters.
Soldiers of that time commonly wore a white head cloth, similar to what is still worn by some peasants in China today. The implication is that the conscripts were so young that they didn’t know how to wrap their head cloths, and needed help from elders.
Located near the Tang capital city of Chang’an, site of the modern city of Xi’an in Shaanxi province, in central China.
