'Centre of Earth!' a Chinaman he said, And bent over a map his pig-tailed head, -- That map in which, portrayed in colours bright, China, all dazzling, burst upon the sight: 'Centre of Earth!' repeatedly he cries, 'Land of the brave, the beautiful, the wise!' Thus he exclaimed; when lo his words arrested Showed what sharp agony his head had tested. He feels a tug -- another, and another -- And quick exclaims, 'Hallo! what's now the bother?' But soon alas perceives. And, 'Why, false night, Why not from men shut out the hateful sight? The faithless English have cut off my tail, and left me my sad fortunes to bewail. Now in the streets I can no more appear, For all the other men a pig-tail wear.' He said, and furious cast into the fire His tail: those flames became its funeral-pyre. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO MY HONORED FRIEND SIR ROBERT HOWARD by JOHN DRYDEN HE HAD HIS DREAM by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR WHAT THE BULLET SANG by FRANCIS BRET HARTE LOVE NOT by CAROLINE ELIZABETH SARAH SHERIDAN NORTON UPON HIS PICTURE by THOMAS RANDOLPH FRIENDSHIP [OR, THE TRUE FRIEND] by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE THE THORN by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH EMBLEMS OF LOVE: 17. THE DIFFICULT ADVENTURE by PHILIP AYRES |