The Ballad of
The Magnificent 7 x 3



Lean and hungry they came out of the West
All fitted out and rested, prepared for the test
With steely eyes and practiced gaze and gait serene and steady
Suitcases just half-full and wallets at the ready
Though unknown on arrival it was clear when they were done
That China would remember them – the Dalton Twenty-One.

They were Mary Mary Mimi Margaret, Sally Sue and Marion
Becky Molly Carol Gerry, Patty Pat and Karen
Peter Buzzy Dick Tom Gerry, Helen and Denise
And leaders Jin Jack Abby Gol and Linda, Ray Jen Joe and Agnes

Now China’s West has been around for several thousand years,
But it hadn’t ever seen the likes of Dalton’s textile-eers.
They hit Beijing ‘rumqi Kashgar Khotan, and once again Urumqi;
Then Turpan Xian Nanjing Suzhou, ending up in Shanghai.
They rode planes and trains and buses, boats and donkey carts and camels.
They bought jewelry statues silks scarves scrolls, and cloisonné’d enamels

From roughest West to higher style of Han civilization
They bumped and bounced and glided right across the Chinese nation
Eating duck lamb shrimp and melons and an awful lot of veggies
And giving out rating stars to hotels restaurants and WC’s.

As the days ticked by they found their bags increasingly had no-room
And yet at every stop it seemed there was another showroom!
Each chose a special way to schlep the mounting load of cargo,
Peter dragged his gal durn dolls; while Patty hired Wells and Fargo.

One even studied hard with Jin – a truly tough task master --
Just to say, with practiced tones, “Ma ma qí, m m màn
Ma ma mà m .”

And as the last of them prepared to ride on out of town,
The artists venders hawkers knew they’d really bought ‘em down.
Well, that’s the fabled saga of the Dalton Twenty-One,
But the moral of the story is that China really won.