Chopstick Chatter

A Chinese lad was at table dawdling with his pork and rice.
This upset his mama-san who reprimanded him in a trice!
"Clean your plate!  Children in America are starving, son!"
And she continued to berate him - her tirade had only begun!

"Your papa-san has a great job while dads in America are on the dole.
Our economy is booming while that of America is lagging, on the whole!
Papa makes good money to provide Americans with the things they need.
You should be very thankful for the jobs they send here, yes indeed!"

"Kids in America can't get a job even with a college education,
But, son, America will provide you with a job in any old vocation!
This is the land of opportunity, my boy, thanks to American capitalists!
You must appreciate all they have done for us Chinese communists!"

"Not so long ago your father and I didn't have a yuan to our name.
Now we have a house and brand new car - life will never be the same!
So I don't want to hear any of your sass or fiddling with your food.
Thanks to the generous Americans, they have lifted our nation's mood!"

"I want you to clean your plate and grow strong to follow in your dad's shoes.
Uncle Sam needs you to make TVs and shirts or anything else they choose.
No more lip!  Clean your plate! I want to see those chopsticks flying!
Think about the kids in America who'll got to bed tonight hungry and crying!"

Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
© All Rights Reserved

Copyright © | Year Posted 2012



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Date: 6/6/2012 8:21:00 AM
When I click on one of your poems I know it will be amazing Bob. Thank you for sharing your words with us. I hope all is well with you and yours. I will stop back again soon. Love, Carol
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Date: 5/19/2012 5:51:00 PM
yike! I do think China still has way more starving people than the US..but it does make one think..perhaps we have been valuing the wrong THINGS. Light & Love
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Date: 4/28/2012 10:13:00 PM
Okay,,,this one is outta this world awesome! Altho I know it is satire I think the truth behind it is troubling..they are building sea vessels that make ours look like Giligan's USS Minnow! Building up their military every time we purchase a Happy Meal! (See what u started? lol.) I really love this poem, Bob and for it's depth of tho't! Printing it for the kids to read too......print....print....print..... Gwendolen
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Date: 4/27/2012 3:14:00 PM
lol, loved this clever one, bob. have a great weekend, both of you. vera must have finished her treatment by now - so pleased all was well
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Date: 4/27/2012 8:22:00 AM
Touche`!!! Stopped in for my Bob-writes-fix and Voila`...lol...wonderful write and so poignant!! Big Hugs,love~debs
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Date: 4/26/2012 4:58:00 PM
this is so hilarious! i grew up, as i surmise you might have, with parents who told us to eat everything on our plates because of "all the starving children in china." here you've turned that old saying on its ear and have done so in such a clever and brilliant way. kudos to you, dear bob!
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