Christopher Morley,
Translations from the Chinese…
(1922)
“ Unthrifty garbage can. O wasteful and slackminded offspring Of a cheese-witted peasantry, Fallen in evil ways While in service to the Peking profiteers, When half the world is starving You would toss away A practicable mouse-patty Or an undamaged rice-cake— When you die And your miserable wraith Approaches the Pagoda of the Immortals May even that lean and gristly portion of your spirit Which is worth saving Be tossed without hesitation Into the purgatorial incinerator. ”
