By: Hunter Ding

Five powers of the world assembled to dine,
Knives ready to divide China’s pie..

China tried to stop them, but the terms were set.
China played, and in the end she lost so many bets.

Not all pieces were equal, the table agreed.
The other understanding was you get what you seize.

With this idea in mind and no intent to share,
Together they sank their knives into the feast.

No, they won’t be fair.

Britain went first: Hong Kong would be ceded.
Kowloon Peninsula and Stonecutter’s Island also will be needed.

Treaty ports were opened, eighteen to be exact.
(Everyone got the same ports, in several different pacts.)

France annexed Tonkin and leased Guangzhouwan Bay,
And capitalized on the concessions England won that day.

Russia scrambled and Upper Manchuria she seized,
Navigating freely on the Amur and Ussuri.

the German Empirewas leased Kiautschou Bay,
Japan won Koreaand took Taiwan away.

Each country got the benefits of being Most-Favored-Nation,
China had to pay heavy reparations,

Permanent ambassadors were stationed in Beijing,
A century of humiliation has begun for the Qing.