China Town

By Highhat

Sat, 15 Oct 2011

579 reads

16 comments

They shouted at us as we passed
At least we didn’t have to buy the junk-
Cheap notes on sale
We were welcomed
In sordid corridors
With crimson drapes
And dragon heads
Where you got your nose
Slit with a bloody dagger
And were dumped
In the city’s waste water
canals
Escaping only to find
Your father had raped you
Why leave?
Tomorrow a body would
Be floating in the pond
Murdered
And we wouldn’t care
Because it was dog eat dog
All we needed was a night out
Clouded by gin-fizz
disturbed by the din
And the ladies in satin gowns
with palm leaf fans
Held by children
Shoeshine polished faces
love letters on silver trays
A couple of bobs for Mum at home
No alphabet, only language
We didn’t sign the treaty
Because the rice-paddocks were drenched
And ready for harvest
So we let her sing her aria
And drank the salty water
Of a thousand Yellow Sea waves
We were always welcome in China Town

Certificate U

Other Fiction

Comments

I didn't see the film, but

Permalink Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on Sat, 2011-10-15 12:29

I didn't see the film, but your poem is very graphic, Pia...so in a way, I did;-) I love the description of the children with, 'shoe-shine polished faces'. Beautiful! Tina;-)

Thanks Tina- the film was an

Permalink Submitted by Highhat on Sat, 2011-10-15 12:47

Thanks Tina- the film was an epic one- so good with Jack Nicholson, John Huston and Faye Dunway...It's one of those you just never forget ;)Pia

Hi Pia, I've never seen the

Permalink Submitted by skinner_jennifer on Sat, 2011-10-15 13:49

Hi Pia, I've never seen the film either, but you have painted an amazing picture of the film, especially poignant the lines:- We were welcomed In sordid corridors With crimson drapes And dragon heads Where you got your nose Slit with a bloody dagger and were dumped In the city's waste water canals Escaping only to find Your father had raped you Why leave? and then going on to say about the body being found and a dog eat dog society, where people would forget, by drowning their memories in gin-fizz. And so your descriptions go on. Great poem - loved it. Jenny.

Thanks Jenn. I am so glad

Permalink Submitted by Highhat on Sat, 2011-10-15 16:30

Thanks Jenn. I am so glad you enjoyed this little poem of mine. Thank you for your kind words. ;)Pia

Thanks for the cherry ,Ed. A

Permalink Submitted by Highhat on Sat, 2011-10-15 16:32

Thanks for the cherry ,Ed. A delightful surprise ;D

Hello Pia. I read this poem

Permalink Submitted by seannelson on Sat, 2011-10-15 21:44

Hello Pia. I read this poem a number of times and enjoy it quite a bit. I've never watched the movie(though I'm often inspired by cinema myself,) but I am familiar with an American china-town... and of course with numerous Chinese restaurants. There are a number of elements that make the poem effective: the introduction we can all relate to, the "gin-fizz" imagery, and the lively, rapid pacing concluded with an apt ending. good work

"If I send you post-cards from the side of the road: photographs of movies, and hearts about to implode" - Elliott Smith

"I will make sense with a few reads \^^/ "

Overthetop1

China Town

By Highhat

Comments

I didn't see the film, but

Thanks Tina- the film was an

Hi Pia, I've never seen the

Thanks Jenn. I am so glad

Thanks for the cherry ,Ed. A

Hello Pia. I read this poem

Thanks Sundays ;)Pia

Sean- it was a great movie I

I didnt realise it was about

Thank you very much Kahdai-

Highly atmospheric, Pia! I

Thanks Magic- I rather like

Great film, great poem.

Glad you've seen the film

Wonderful writing, not a

Thanks- that's great

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