Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, OLD CHIN LEE, by LEWIS C. DAVISON


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

OLD CHIN LEE, by                    
First Line: Old chin lee / sitting in the door
Last Line: Is old chin lee.
Subject(s): Asian Americans


Old Chin Lee,
Sitting in the door;
Fronting on the sidewalk,
Stands his little store.
Just a row of bottles,
Boxes two or three;
How he makes his living,
Is a mystery to me.
Walk up to him and greet him,
"Well, how is Chin today?"
"Me catchee lilly loomatism,"
Chin will always say.
Always bland and smiling,
Happy as can be,
A pretty good old Chinaman,
Is Old Chin Lee.

Old Chin Lee,
Basking in the sun,
Knows the little children,
Every blessed one;
Black and brown and yellow,
Hindu, Malay, Jap,
Tumble all around him,
Climb into his lap.
Gives them cake and candy,
And they always yell for more;
Then he puts an awful face on,
And "shoos" them from the door.
He's grinning when he does it,
But he never lets them see,
A pretty good old Chinaman,
Is Old Chin Lee.

Old Chin Lee,
Sitting in his store,
Always charges "Melicans,"
Just a little more.
Strings them every time they trade,
Candy, soap or gin;
The way he puts the prices up,
Is very like a sin.
But let a "down and outer" come,
Broke and hungry, too,
Ask him for a meal and bed,
Chin will say "cando,"
"You no workee, you no pay,
"Takee dlink on me,"
A pretty good old Chinaman,
Is Old Chin Lee.

Old Chin Lee,
Sitting in his chair,
Plays the life game crafty,
But he plays it on the square;
Lots of ranting Christians,
Who think his chance is slim,
Would be a whole lot better,
If they took a tip from him.
Born in ancient Canton,
He's a heathen Chinee right,
His skin is brownish yellow,
But you bet his soul is white,
And when you get to know him,
You surely will agree,
A pretty good old Chinaman,
Is Old Chin Lee.





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