My Lady of the Chinese Courtyard

ear

t festival at the Temp

Honourable Mother de

y, so the chairs were

illage Re

one of those great pl

ll. There was the Augu

h-li and myself. We too

was indeed a time of f

he canal, and it was d

e passed slowly along

n the banks were the g

In the deserted distri

ping mats and boat cov

and thatched roofs ne

chicklets sheltering

the mot

ough the crowded wate

limpses of the guests

or could watch the chi

teps between the ho

washing clothes, or t

blue cotton which cloth

ssip and heard the laug

happy at

pass to the open can

here were so many boats

big boats, little boats

y oar. There were the

assengers, and great u

ts with their hungry,

ir places, waiting for

ter for the fish

broad highway. Even

on wheelbarrows, ric

nting as they swung al

oo on their shoulders,

to which we drew nea

bearers were awaiting

ay to the temple. It se

all the women world, t

and official's wife, bu

ded from our chairs i

great burner, where it

of the beggar woman,

e temple, placed our c

obeisance to the Ma

our household for th

f Mercies, Kwan-yin,

her my heart is full of

nd make them all due w

Kwan-yin, is the woman

my way, and I know it

entle stream, and I kno

t thou art away and I

her all fire of passi

and cares pass away a

light of the morning s

y heart is full of love

as heard my prayers a

ther of Mercy, and ea

le thing to show rememb

full nor the days too

an altar b

the temple I glanced

God of Light, the Bu

with the light of many

oated to the roof. I thou

rom out my lips, not w

the mighty God with hu

to me; and then we le

rtyards, looking at th

els guarding the place

the Goldfish Monastery

nd I were there onc

und cakes from the pri

er the pool, pushing,

sels we threw them. Ti

upon the terrace; then

boat. We drifted slowl

sed the earth, the moo

ers, such as childre

last thy Mother waxed

e subject with her,

r say: "All my sons h

end? The cock crows

sest of my sons canno

hy they crow or bark a

her head dolefully ov

arrow way of Confuci

just at sunset, and a

ame to my heart that t

there and quiet, the curv

down with their wings

at for me it was an em

-ti will-- wit

Who Lov