"Mandarin Madness", about a Chinese duck's visit to New York City.

Mandarin Madness [Part 2 of my China Trilogy]

An altered picture of a Mandarin Duck, probably the most beautiful of our fine featured friends.

Original poetry by Chrome Dome Mike Kimbro

Consider reading along to my Spoken Verse Performance.

VERSE 1

The US and China may not be foes,

But in the avian world there is conflict.

Colonel Sanders battles General Tso.

That war's outcome is hard to predict.

VERSE 2

Their chicken can be spicy and/or sweet.

Ours achieves perfection in the fryer.

But there is one way where we can't compete.

They have some which look so much flyer.

CHORUS

China has the Mandarin.

Just feast your eyes on the down on it's skin.

And, oh my God,

On it's back it has two fins.

BRIDGE

Pretty Bird!

New York City has a pretty bird!

And they've given it top billing.

But it would be nice,

During it's stay there.

To use a tracking device,

Then we can say where,

That pretty bird is chilling.

VERSE 3

Oh sure, we think our birds are great.

And they aren't ugly, just somewhat plain.

But one Chinese duck decides to emigrate,

And the fervor is difficult to explain.

VERSE 4

If photographers are huddled together,

In one of the New York City boroughs,

With lenses focused on colorful features.

The right photo will help with their cash flows.

CHORUS

Now we have the Mandarin.

Just feast your eyes on the down on it's skin.

And, oh my God,

On it's back it has two fins.

VERSE 5

Indoors is where poets like to craft words.

We could do it at home, or in prison.

Unlike bird watchers, who are outdoor nerds.

They must have, like, 20/20 vision.

VERSE 6

Now they suffer from Mandarin Madness.

No, it's not a new found strain of bird flu.

When pretty bird leaves, there will be sadness.

And Peking Duck on the plate of you know who.

CHORUS

Gonna eat the Mandarin.

Once they have plucked all the down from it's skin.

But, oh my God,

On it's back it had two fins.

The End