The New Tales of Old Shanghai
Heep Yunn School , George , Natasha Esme - 16
O , Shanghai , wonderful city of old , Split ‘ tween two different worlds . The rich spend lavishly ; They have not a care in the world . The poor sleep anxiously ; Their dreams full of hunger and pain .
The wealthy come from land Foreign and near , Searching for a way to Make their fortune . Most are fair-skinned ; They feel dominant Over those who toil and slave away for them .
The poor , in a cycle Of poverty . Working their fingers to The bone , protesting Against the injustice , Silently . Always Silently .
Magnificent and opulent ; Affluent and prosperous . Slowly but surely Asserting their control in exotic territory .
Building concessions – sorry – settlements , Esteemed and proud to bully with opium . Useless in their own country , Earning wealth , status , and success here .
Impoverished and destitute ; Penurious and dismal . Slowly but surely Dying of poverty and oppression .
Labouring through day and night , Desperate to please for a moments rest . For what ? Wishes and ideals are still ignored .
O , Shanghai , wonderful city of old , Split ‘ tween two different worlds . The rich , Born with a silver spoon in their mouths ; The poor , Living from hand to mouth .