Paul Shapera
Han Mi
[Han-Mi]

The queen of crime is brooding in her lair
Puffing kiseru and plotting her dark ways
They think she wants to scowl
And watch the world burn down
But she just wants to watch him save the day

I like the role of queen of vice and crime lord
The villain's always the most fun to play
I wish I was like them
And with my role content
And never pursued past this parlous way
Did the dragon lady take your breath away today?

Han-Mi see, she runs a den of gambling
Sells opium and knows kung fu, wears jade
She speaks in proverbs, then
Commands lurking Chinamen
In broken English, so the scripts all say

I thought that if I just talk with the writer
The racist implications, I'd explain
Just to help you know
Make a better show
A more engaging, mindful cabaret
Did the dragon lady make you gasp today?
So after curtain call I'd speak to someone
But when my time as Han-Mi ends and fades
I blank out, just dissolve
I'm not aware at all
Until the next time I am on the stage

I can't recall what happens after curtain
Between shows I cannot account for days
Who I am post play
After you stop the cabaret?
When did my mind splinter in this way?
Did the dragon lady make you cry today?

How do I make it stop
Just make it halt
I think my mind's not well
Is this all my fault?

If I stop it all
Will it fade away?
Will I just wake up
To another cabaret?

How do I make it end
Can anybody help?
Can't you hear my cries?
Can't you see that I'm not well?
None of you respond
Do you even know?
You think that this is just
Another part of this damn show?

Just sit there and stare
Watch me scream and squawk
As this never ends
As this never stops

You just sit and stare
At me alone and scared
Why does it not stop
Why am I still here?

There's only Han-Mi when the curtain rises
The actress who is lost within the play
The performance comes and goes
No one ever stops the show
Is the other me aware I'm here on stage?

If you see me walking on a Wednesday
Please don't let me get back on this stage
Find out who I am
Do I understand
The other me is lost within the play?
If you can stop the show, today's the day
Does anyone hear a thing I say?
The girl who's caught within the cabaret
The dragon lady's live on stage today