Dance, Dragon, Dance!

Dance, Dragon, Dance!

today we saw Chinese dragon
dance on damp tarmac.
Chinese dragon
had eaten Englishman
who writhed in his stomach,
smiling.

joined by dancing girls,
stereo system,
white rabbit and Cheshire cat,
Chinese dragon
handed me a fortune cookie:
"all is well.

Chinese dragon didn't
watch the news or care
for the plight of the needy.
he would dance on tarmac
as if all was fine,
take our minds off
railway children,
beggar boys,
orphaned amputees,
global virus.

we hurled pennies
at Chinese dragon,
the pennies hurt him, cut him
scattered his dancing girls,
smashed his stereo,
killed white rabbit
frightened Cheshire cat.
still he danced, oblivious
to the dead, the wounded.
"Dance, Dragon, Dance!
cried a young girl,
face hidden under scarlet cloth.
Chinese dragon danced on,
bleeding enthusiasm,
til he toppled to the tarmac:

"Dance, Dragon, Dance!
louder this time.