Made in China

by John Grey

The south seas are made in China. 
Dolls and trinkets, masks and keyrings, 
cups and pens,  
everything except the faces. 
Far away is cheaper than local. 
But who cares? 
As long as the name of the island’s  
spelled in shiny letters, 
the folks back home will know 
you’ve been there. 
Someday I’ll go to China. 
See the forbidden city. 
Walk a hundred yards or so 
along the great wall. 
And buy a souvenir of course. 
A reminder of my travels. 
Not just in China 
but of every place I’ve ever been.