Showdowned Poem by RIC BASTASA

i was following you
holding a camera
and shooting an old
chinese man sitting
beside the door of
his chinatown store

i was expecting
something more
about a showdown
like that old man
defeating Bruce Lee
in a common
KungFu Film, or

him becoming a
flying tiger over
bamboo trees
showing his
magic prowess
against a lioness
chinese actress.

but i understand
completely there
is no such showdown
in chinatown
except the camera
shooting an old man
and then you go
back to your room
watching the sea.