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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
WONG GIM JUNG, by RUTH COMFORT MITCHELL Poet's Biography First Line: He is as much old california Last Line: "dinner leddy!" Alternate Author Name(s): Young, Sanborn, Mrs. Subject(s): Asian Americans | |||
He is as much old California As abalone and madrona, As the Seal Rocks, and cable cars. Little and lean, L-ing his R.'s, he stands before The cave door which he has signed With strange and beautiful symbols Which should mean Temples and shrines, Incense and teak and silk, Dragons and jade and ivory But which merely say -- HERE WE KEEP THE MILK! He is wizened and dry and clean; Benevolent, tireless, wise; He trots all day; In his small hard hands He holds our comfort. Forty years He has cooked for White Devils -- Electricity -- gas -- the good oak flame. He has finished with hope and fears In the fathomless calm of the East. By and by, his bones will go home To a hungry Canton village By a drowsy river with a sing-song name. His sloe black eyes are opaque, Inscrutable, steady. He announces a groaning board, He bids to a succulent feast, He spills a horn of plenty When he chants -- "Dinner leddy!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: YEE BOW by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THE YOUNG LAUNDRYMAN by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS OLD CHIN LEE by LEWIS C. DAVISON POEM BY THE WELLSIDE by MEENA ALEXANDER FOR THE POETS OF FIRETREE by VALORIE (NAKAMA) BEJARANO SONG OF THE SAD GUITAR by MARILYN MEI LING CHIN GIRL ON THE SWING by CHUNGMI KIM IN REMEMBERANCE by JANICE MIRIKITANI THE NIGHT COURT by RUTH COMFORT MITCHELL |
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