My Lady of the Chinese Courtyard

ear

e was full of sadness

me. Now a week has

it is buried deep for o

one, my daily tasks th

er has handed me the

ur she does me, and th

hild as she did when

seh

day when I came to my

tion of a bride, my p

e procession was almo

g heart the many tens

were the silken cover

ow their richness and

. There were the hous

ishes, the baskets, th

, tens upon tens of th

me by, "Enter my ne

e." Then at the end of

of marriage, so closely

feet could scarce su

d my hand shook with

She stood bravely befor

d, her hair twined wit

, but with all h

d. She was away from h

o love her, and she kn

w home her rice-bowl wo

y moons

the ancestral tablet an

urable Parent, I then s

ost thou remember whe

nto my eyes? I was thi

I could look but for a m

then to thine again. B

beautiful, that thine

and thy teeth like pea

se I have known of bri

first time, wished to s

ught to myself that I c

f I found favour in his

cause she has answered

at her feet to

able Mother has pass

mind from my loss. Sh

d my days are full of

seeing that my hair is

ake my obeisance; the

efore the God of the Ki

s altar, so that our da

l I consult with the

arded carefully and th

t has been paid, becau

that a bargain is no

and feel much pride whe

t know, unless it is be

this large household.

y come to me instead

too rare or heavy f

eri

dener to the terrace a

ove the stone-flagged te

ose against the mounta

in

and look over the val

en thou went to the ci

rn. Because of my love

it binds me, I keep it

ow

ppiness and brings ba

uite so still that we co

hillside down below; o

by thy side, watching

nd archway

ee, I love th

Wi