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China Books: The Peace Correspondent and China Rhymes

Submitted by Sam.Gaskin on Fri, 2009-09-04 13:13

China book publishers Earnshaw Books, who we featured in our July issue, recently released two new titles: The Peace Correspondent by Garry Marchant, and China Rhymes, by Shamus A'Rabbitt.

Marchant has worked as a travel writer for thirty-something years and The Peace Correspondent brings together 40 stories from his trips to 16 countries in Asia. Shanghai features as the destination for a ride he takes with Hong Kong's Harley Owners Group (HOG) way back in 1992. The bikers hit the open road only to have their hands held by a police escourt, which joins them for the entire trip. On the plus side, the freeways were cleared for their arrival in the 'hai.

Going further back, Shamus A'Rabbitt wrote poems poking fun at expat life in Asia before World War II. Rabbitt had a great ear for pidgin English, whose grammatical flexibility he lovingly abused to engineer rhymes. Here's a good example we've reprinted in full (thanks Earnshaw Books!).

 

The Minute Man in Shanghai

 

While strolling down the Bund one day, 

Before the stroke of noon

I saw a gunner cross the way - 

the Time we'd all know soon.

 

He stopped to light his cigarette,

And casu-ally play;

And speak to everyone he met - 

Then bang! 'Twas noon of day!

 

Approaching jovial John I said:

"How savvy you pull string?"

He answered, "Me have got one head,

Him velly easy thing!"

 

"My flen Sing Fat one clock have got,

Him talkee plopper face;

And evly day him savvy what,

I lookee Sing Fat's place!"

 

Next day when passing Sing Fat's shop,

I thought I'd take a look:

I asked him if his clock "make stop,"

How plopper time he took?

 

Said he: "On Bund side got one gun, 

And evly day at noon;

When twelve o'clock he make blum blum!

I fixee him clock soon."

 

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