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China Town

Posted by Highhat on October 15, 2011 - 11:02

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

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Comments

Silver Spun Sand | October 15, 2011 - 11:29

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;-)

Highhat | October 15, 2011 - 11:47

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

skinner_jennifer | October 15, 2011 - 12:49

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.

Highhat | October 15, 2011 - 15:30

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

;)Pia

Highhat | October 15, 2011 - 15:32

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

SundaysChild | October 15, 2011 - 20:39

Very good Pia! Gritty and poignant x

seannelson | October 15, 2011 - 20:44

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

Highhat | October 16, 2011 - 03:12

Thanks Sundays

;)Pia

Highhat | October 16, 2011 - 03:14

Sean- it was a great movie I just never will forget. It was made in the early 70's but the actors excelled. Thanks a lot for your great comment. I am so glad you enjoyed it. We had a China Town in Sydney too.

;)Pia

Kahdai | October 17, 2011 - 18:49

I didnt realise it was about a film! Lovely poem though

Highhat | October 17, 2011 - 19:20

Thank you very much Kahdai- yes it has elements from the film in it..

;)Pia

MistakenMagic | October 20, 2011 - 17:46

Highly atmospheric, Pia! I love:

"No alphabet, only language
We didn’t sign the treaty
Because the rice-paddocks were drenched
And ready for harvest"

Well done on the cherry!

Magic xxx

Highhat | October 20, 2011 - 18:15

Thanks Magic- I rather like those lines too...

;)Pia

Overthetop1 | October 24, 2011 - 06:00

Great film, great poem. Pretty darn good cherry. You are on a roll.

Highhat | October 24, 2011 - 13:39

Glad you've seen the film too Ott- thank you for reading and commenting

;)Pia

shoe | November 21, 2011 - 13:43

Wonderful writing, not a word out of place.

Highhat | November 21, 2011 - 15:52

Thanks- that's great Shoe

;)Pia