Chop Chop Suey
Village life.
The only buzz,
outside the Chinese after nine.
The Garden of Tranquility.
Chop Chop jabbers a lot;
to his mates; to passers by;
at the cops.
Always tryin’ to get a laugh goin’,
but never venturing far
from that neon yellow sign.
He stares at passing cars,
whilst over his shoulder
he’s mouthing off about some ride he’s had.
Raised voices when someone’s can disappears;
no slaps given this time.
Then biting his lip,
awaiting the drunks from the bars,
then slabbering at them about why he’s barred –
the truth already logged.
And The Garden locks its doors
as the last of the Bucky is swilled.
And the yellow sign is turned off.
Time for the lonely walk
back to his Ma’s
where he stuffs that night’s scraps.
Chop Chop never buys a Chinese.
Arun Sharma was born and bred in Northern Ireland, the son of Indian immigrants. He is currently teaching English in Bristol.