Kung Fu Chop Suey

This poem was written for my friend Sonya Mako Wong



Kung Fu Chop Suey

On my twenty-fifth birthday off to China's best travelled I went
So very unfruitful and unaware I enormously lost all my money thus spent,
Then I entered a Chinese restaurant and telephoned Tonya Chang's,
Alas, I'd aimed to relinquish my yearnings of humble hunger pangs.

In a strategic moment, I ordered chop suey and a plate full of spring rolls,
Also, a full bottle of plonk to keep out the shivering unwanted cold
I ate so fast and drank like a half drowned starved tinkler,
Putting my hands in my pockets, found nothing but frozen fingers.

Found out I did not have enough money to pay for the food bill
Right there and then decided to leave when it was quiet and so still,
But then once outside, all to my eyes was shocked with utter surprise,
Were all the waiters standing there with venom in their piercing eyes!

They all did many kungFu chops unto my veiled eyes, then stamped on my head
their obvious contempt was to leave me so bruised and so very dead,
They attacked me like a lunging tiger in heat, then I was so still and prone,
For my blood had rippled and muscles were strung out and splintered right to the bone.

They surely unravelled me, inadequately back then that was so very sure,
A quite eventful birthday present to remember full of much violence and gore
I lay in a hospital for an extended six or seven long months or weeks,
All this had happened for a simple plate of chop suey and fresh leaks.

You do plenty of silly things when your young-ha ha! And that was all a blur!!
Copyright © | Year Posted 2016

Poem

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artlyy Avatar
September 16, 2026 at 5:52 AM
I've really been enjoying your poem and the emotions and imagery were so vivid that i could easily picture them as beautiful illustration. I'm a commission-based manga/webtoon artist, and I'd love to help bring your story to life if you're ever interested. Feel free to reach out at gm@il : akiracomicart2@ or on inst@ akiraa_artly
Agustin Avatar
April 6, 2024 at 6:04 AM
Thanks for sharing this... exposing your thoughts through your unique poetic style. Meanwhile, I greet you with the love of the Lord, expressed by John 3:16 of the Bible, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Be blessed.
Bbb Avatar
May 1, 2016 at 12:57 PM
welcome here, interesting write! finding frozen fingers in pocked made me laugh especially;d this was esp. nice to read in comparison with the mood of tin soldier
A  Avatar
April 25, 2016 at 8:11 PM
awesome read, Adelle. SKAT
Allison Avatar
April 24, 2016 at 7:29 AM
Make me pleased i go for Chinese takeaways lol:-) hugs Jan xx
Badke Avatar
April 24, 2016 at 11:43 AM
Sure do like your comment Jan, always glad to have a little fun at my industrious endeavors. Which I always seem to see no matter where I travel to... hugs Adelle xx
Cw Avatar
April 24, 2016 at 5:53 AM
WOW!! This poem of yours took me back to another time when I went to Singaore. Quite beautiful Adelle.
Badke Avatar
April 24, 2016 at 11:38 AM
Guess you kind of know of how it was when we travelled into that part of China. We both sure happy thoughts and lots of priviledged moments of meeting both her grandparents. Oh my, those were the days... Adelle
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