In Dreamy Chinatown
By B.T., Los Angeles
As I lie in this room, all hazy with smoke
From the “dopes” smoking hop and sniffing at coke,
My mind wanders back just a short year ago
To the time I first started at hitting the snow.
But soon I’ll be dreaming again in my sleep
Of my little gray home away ’cross the deep;
I’ve thought of dear mother as much as I can,
I’ve fought ’gainst the dope and fought like a man.
But here as I lie on my dirty old bunk
In the Hong Kong hotel, with my head full of junk,
I am hopelessly gone and await the last bell
That will usher me home to the dark depths of hell.
There’s a little red devil a-prodding my feet,
Begging me gently to fall into sleep;
I’m gradually slipping, so here’s my last knell,
Because I am under the Chinaman’s spell.
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