Long Chinatown Poems

The world is a clown looking at you up and down
The world is a clown; the plane is about to touchdown
Madness in the East, madness in the west
And the north and the south are gallivanting...

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This is about San Francisco,1967

Oh, yes that city had its own song!
It was a siren's call that sang;
"Here, Panagiota, is where you do belong!"
And my dearest poets, the sirens 
call was not wrong.

It sang a...

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John and Bath, short for Bathsheba Adams, were quite a pair.  Nothing ever got them down, except maybe an occasional cold.  Even then she would take hers out into the cold winter day...

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                          A Story from My Heart



 
Kelly was a Red...

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An old hotel in Portland
Rain hitting street lamps
The buzzer
Click
Surveillance camera
“Can I get a room?”

It used to be called the "Burnside Triangle" back when it was still gay

Bump Bump da Bump da bump
Nightclubs bangin’
Young twinks in...

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Saturday flings
Sensorial pleasures;
Refreshing rain

~~~~~~~~~


A gift of somnolence
Moments on a breeze;
Drowsy airy feel

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Beyond these silk curtains
An uncertain world;
Looking not seeing

~~~~~~~~~


Daughter's simple hair braids
Charming sight to see;
Wavy murmurings

~~~~~~~~~


Stroll by this old shop
Ancient owner smiles;
Dialect greeting nods

~~~~~~~~~


Faces in...

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Coming from out of nowhere 
somewhere in space
somewhere above 
Somewhere my love
Running and running I was
Those son of a guns
Would pop me in my head
Pop pop pop on my face
Splat spla splat
Trying to dodge them
But...

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Evening skyline
Glow of last light;
Dark shadows creep

~~~~~~~~~


Green moss
Zen garden stones;
Calmness charms

~~~~~~~~~


Antique shoppe
Old proprietor;
Living antique

~~~~~~~~~


Cemetery visit
Angel statues stand
Guardians of death

~~~~~~~~~


Newspaper vendor
Hazards early rain;
Prompt delivery

~~~~~~~~~


World news broadcast
So many conflicts;
Violent humanity

~~~~~~~~~


Children's playground
Noisy little people;
Fun screams and shouts

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Empty taxi...

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Ottawa the beautiful-
                in the province of Ontario . . .   in Canada
    at night...

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Jack London's home across the Bay,
Now crossing the Golden Gate.
Walking through Fisherman's Wharf,
Smelling the entrees as you pass restaurant doors.

While ships passing along the way,
Fishing boats pulling up to the dock.
Crabs are snapping at your...

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I sit in my room - waiting for you,
Waiting for these - hopes to come true,
I hold your gift - in my hand,
Praying for the trip - we had planned,
Will you come - to my...

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Observe and see
Festive cheer warms;
Spirits set free

~~~~~~~~~


Cherry blossoms
Pink carpet pathway;
Waiting patiently

~~~~~~~~~


Here's to you
Sakura moments;
Sparkling sunshine

~~~~~~~~~


Moon overhead
View from my window;
Tender conversations

~~~~~~~~~


Mahjong games
Relatives chit-chat;
My winning streak

~~~~~~~~~


Touch of magic
Spring wind rustles;
Cheery blossoms fall

~~~~~~~~~


Moonlight stroll
Old arch bridge;
Squeaky wood groans

~~~~~~~~~


Two...

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1. When in Rome
	a)	Tour Vatican City
	b)	Be awestruck by the Colosseum
	c)	Marvel at the Trevi Fountain
	d)	Study the architecture

2. When in Dubai
	a)	Learn Arabic
	b)	Wear sandals
	c)	Go skiing
	d)	Feel the call to prayers

3. When in London
	a)	Eat a proper breakfast
	b)	Have scones and clotted...

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The Morgans were having 
seven guests that night,
They had dinner and were 
drinking peppered ale,
The eldest son stood behind 
his father,
The rest of the family retired 
to bed ,
The stranger introduced 
his crew of men...

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Millions and millions of bricks
Tons and tons of concrete
Lord only knows how many panes of glass
Granite, Marble, and cobblestone too
Build a city strong, steeped in history

The Adams, Otis, Hancock, and Revere
Tea parties, massacres and lanterns...

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Songbird acapella
Early morning hymn;
Balcony recital

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Blurry haze
Burnt ash off-odours;
Surabaya harvest

~~~~~~~~~~


Bridge underpass
Homeless man dozes;
Happy dreams lurk

~~~~~~~~~


Chinatown brisk walk
Noodle takeaway;
Homecoming

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Coin shop interlude
Metallic global trips;
Static travelogue

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Darling smiles
Sunset stroll;
Silence speaks loud

~~~~~~~~~


Fanfare flair
Just for today;
Death anniversary

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Wayside flowers
Mystic beauty;
Unknown aura

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Words fail
Noisy passage;
Sense...

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It’s in Los Angeles, California
where I spent some days 
to be with a few friends and confreres;
they welcomed and invited me for dinner
a great experience, well appreciated!

With the continuing summer heatwave,
it limited the option to...

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Night market stalls
So much to see;
Feel happy daze


Curious eyes feast
Seek a fond buy;
Pretty things shout


Street food vendor
Pleasant fare delights;
Long queue waiting


Crowded street
Hawker offerings;
Brisk buy and sell


Waylaid by stuff
Hordes descend here;
Night bazaar tempts


Just for a while
Try...

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Fancy a trip down memory lane somewhere
Through the corridors of time and space that steer
Fond passageways to remember our affair...

Here we go now, you and I, my lover dear:
Waltz hand in hand under the evening...

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The most beautiful days in my life,
     Living in San Francisco near that
     Bridge, the Golden Gate!
     Days of well behaved children in
...

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Oh Singapore, the Lion City, how you roar
A marvel of modernity, a city to adore
Your skyline soars high into the heavens
A testament to the ambition of your citizens

And there, the Merlion stands proud and tall
Half...

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Singapore tryst
Old times bordering;
Restored trade regime


Old Chinatown alleys
Winding streets await;
Takeaway souvenirs


Buzzing bazaars
Colourful wares shout;
Attractions ply


Smith Street
Chinatown circuit;
Oriental stuff


Strange name
Telok Ayer Street?
Meaningful glimpses


This Chinese temple
Tourists assemble;
Photo snapshots


Old men playing
Chinese chess;
Stone table forum


Street vendors
Crafts and wares;
Brisk commotion


Somnolent...

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Blurry e-motion
Waiting on words;
Upheaval swirls


Meal time posture
Food court harvest;
Same old stuff


Chinatown fringe 
Walkabout excursion;
Hot humid weather chokes


Word for word jazz
Relevance juxtaposed;
Poignant verse strains 


Book store punctuates
Tucked in a corner;
Niched following


Verse genres ply
Moods and variations;
Starling change...

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Berkeley Beckoning Me

I grew up 
In Berkeley, California
In the early 70s
A wild and crazy time

Berkeley shaped my soul
And my heart will always
Long for my home land

Berkeley was always
A wild and zany place
Filled with original characters
Drawn...

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Now here we go,
My love and I;
Stroll with calm glow,
Watch change of skies.


The children play,
Noise fills rapture;
The adults stray,
Cellphones capture.


A tiny dog
Strides like a toy;
His master hogs
This pretty ploy.


Wet pavement here,
Wet grassy patch;
Wet these worn...

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