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The soil here is hard in summer |
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so I buried my father in a tomb of rocks, |
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a plot behind St. Catherine's church |
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to lay rest the giilded dream of pitiable men. |
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With gold found to the North |
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Quartzburg drove out its whores, |
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its foreigners and roughnecks. |
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They settled this camp. |
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The Mexicans often staged |
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bull and bear fights near the bar. |
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They kept a boy entertained |
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when there were no hangings to enjoy. |
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The Cantonese flooded the quarries, |
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working for less than the Whites. |
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My father would curse the Orientals, |
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yet came home reeking of opium. |
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A group of my friends and I |
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left to explore the creek. |
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The Chinaman kneeled there, |
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gleaning for gold. |
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We mocked him and pushed him, |
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I prodded him with my knife. |
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He gripped his revolver |
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and fired in the air. |
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The errant bullet |
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ricocheted off a stone |
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and grazed my leg. |
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I ran back bawling |
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to the town. |
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Mobs |
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surround |
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the crying Chinaman, |
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Father clutching the noose. |
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Law |
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arrived. |
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The sheriff demanded |
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that he be jailed and properly tried. |
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Gangs amassed |
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late at night |
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outside the jail. |
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Father led, |
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rope in hand, |
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prey in his cell. |
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Smooting lies. |
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Tempted with |
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tobacco leaves, |
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the Chinese |
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reached his arm |
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through the bars. |
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The lynch mob swiftly grabbed |
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the gleaner's exposed hand. |
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Father wrapped the collar |
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aroud his neck. |
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The horde yanked on the rope. |
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Chinaman dragged and choked, |
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his brains dashed upon the wall. |
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Soon all the gold mines dried |
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but that blood never did. |
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Red still stains the jail cell wall. |
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Father was never tried, |
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none mourn a foreigner, |
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but I saw guilt in his eyes. |
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With all the riches spent, |
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the people left the town |
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yet I stayed to dwell here still. |
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When Father died of drink |
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I did not weep for him. |
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I pray the grave unburdens his sins. |
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I pray that someone will remain |
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to bury me. |
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I pray that someone will remain. |