The Chinaman.

[Dr Fogg]

There are few things so sad as a lonely boy
Young Jimmy was lonely as hell
A ten year old orphan with nothing to do
By the look on his face you could tell.

So he played on his own, in the home’s back yard
Wasting hours, doing nothing at all
Until one day the Chinaman came
Young Jimmy was totally enthralled.

Outside the fence the Chinaman stood
He uttered not one single word
With his silk Chinese robe, and long white beard
He held out a card that Jimmy observed.

So he stretched his arm through the railings
And he took the card with speed
It was covered in Chinese writing
That poor Jimmy just couldn’t read.

Disappointed he turned the card over
To his excitement he noticed these words
Visit the Chinaman's junk shop
Behind Wallmart at maple and third.

He looked up to find the Chinaman gone!
So he went in through the homes back door.
But he took the card to bed that night
And read it till his eyes became sore.

Dawn broke and Jimmy was running
Through the streets as fast as he could
He supposed the shop might not be there
But he hoped in his heart that it would.

Outside the shop stood the Chinaman
He beckoned to Jimmy, come in
So in to that shop little Jimmy walked
Just one look and he gave a big grin.

The Chinaman sat in a corner
He gestured to jimmy look round
The boy just walked round in amazement
Not believing the things that he found.

A glass case filled with miniature tigers
That growled at him, as he walked by
A pirate with eye patch and parrot
Who winked at him from his good eye.

Shakespeare sat writing a poem
Complaining the words wouldn’t flow
An elephant blowing his trumpet
And a yeti sat in some snow.

Then Jimmy discovered the book case
With works from all over the world
The first book he opened was Kipling
And into the jungle, jimmy was hurled!

The chinaman smiled when he saw the boy go
He wont come back for many an hour
My job has been done he chuckled
The boy has discovered, literary power.

DR. Fogg

_{Copyright ©2009. HW Harborne}

[Artemis]

oooo Foggy I love this ... I would definitely read this to my grandkids, bookmarked, exalt for being such a great poet in all subjects, loved this K xx

[ARTHUR KELLY]

always the humour with a serious twist.

I always enjoy reading you as others do

EXALT (pending)

[Forest]

Brilliant poem, foggy! I wasn't sure whether the regard the china man as friend or foe over those last two stanza. Not until that last line, where the magic and mystery of the whole poem gained this whole new dimension. Not just a standard tale of magic adventures, but about the brilliance of literature and imagination. Fantastic. Exalt!

[Harklight]

What a clever Chinaman, Foggy. Of all the things he could have given Jimmy, he helped the boy find the one that no one could take from him, that would ease his loneliness and be a lifetime gift. A story to treasure with a stand-up moral. Bonsai, away! *Exalt* H x

[carousal]

I liked your humour from the start Bill then a hiccup due to your health set back which understandably you took time to regain you’re muse. Over the last few months you have all cylinders working again plus a supercharger. For me this is your best write I find a touch humour, which I knew I would, I find a good story line but I find also a soft tenderness which is so engaging, Exalt friend, when I am able..

[Angela L Burke]

very nice...I loved it ! To many youngsters don't use their imaginations anymore...if its not in a video game they are bored...if only they could discover the magic in books well done!!