China Diary: The Life of Mary Austin Endicott

Appendix A: Three Poems

The First-Born Spring comes to the Golden Valley Rice fields gleam in the sun; New green waves in the bamboo; The time of waiting is done. Frogs are piping this evening; The moon climbs over the hill; A sweet cry comes from the cradle, Our hearts are glad and still. Can it be that this is our baby? This bit of peach-bloom and gold? We are filled with the ancient wonder Of a drama that never grows old. (1 April 1935) Vignettes of Chungking Encircled by blue misty hills, Where rivers meet, and swirling over hidden reefs— Race eastward to the sea. A city built upon a rock Defies the march of Time. On its steep cliffs brown dwellings cling Like barnacles; above the ancient city-wall, Whose arch’d gateways have all but vanished now, Tower modern skyscrapers. Appendix A Three Poems by Mary Austin Endicott 243 Around its rocky base, Vying for anchorage, Crowd weather-beaten junks, among which sampans Pole their way against the current’s force To find brief mooring. Pitched sails move langorously upstream A steamer whistles, and a plane wheels overhead. “Life is more vibrant here than anywhere else,” A traveller said, watching the teeming crowds Surge through the streets, Pressed by the panting coolies Bearing great loads upon their shoulder-poles. Up and down precipitous flights That scale the river bank. Around the southern sweep of shore The lofty hills above green ridges rise, Where one may walk amidst the old, unhurried China. There, in fertile valleys golden in the Spring Gleam tiers of watery crescents where brown shadows Hold the fringe of field, the curve of darkened hill, The tiny water-plant and grey clouds floating by. (The West China Missionary News, May 1939) When You Return When you return, my love, I shall not ask How you have spent your days, nor what joy Gave you blue skies when clouds hung low; I shall not want to know what each hour held for you Of duty done, of terror overcome or friendly interludes. What’s been, has been, and what you wish to share I’ll gladly hear. The rest is locked with you. All that I need to know is that you’re by my side, Your laughter in my ears, your eyes upon my face. With this I’ll be content. 244 China Diary: The Life of Mary Austin Endicott From that glad day we’ll build a life together, Secure each in the other’s love, Yet granting, each to other, the right to be, A person venturing through life by his own chart, Guided by everlasting stars. (winter 1945) 245 Appendix A: Three Poems ...