University of Nanking - Linguist Yearbook (Nanking, China)

Page 46 text:

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Page 45 text:

THE LINGUIST 43 light, the bamboos bend above them. Searfs of darkness are flung across the CI'0Zy huts of matting and mud, where before our curious eyes the peoble hide their faces behind bowls of rice. The great wall looms across our Willy, with an old man's growth of beard upon its gaunt old face. Inside, behind the spirit walls arc dim little rooms where light flickers over U10 silver and gold patterns on thc looms. The ricksha coolie coughs and Ulops his face. His feet, padpadding under the lantern arc thc only focus of light, on the moon ofthe East shall rise. EVENING IN CHINA The grey curve of the crumbling wall- Just beauty piled for grassy fing'ring- And the deep boom-boom of the temple call, From thc near-by hill Now black with t-he swoop of the magpics winging The golden dusk to their hainhoos tall. From the wind-swept hush on the ancient wall - The beauty of Night alone is speaking- To the cobbled pavement. The sea-slugs sprawl In a welter of mud. Wheel-barrows squeaking, And vendors hawking, and chickens squawl-:ingg Then the half-moon rising over all.

Page 47 text:

THE COOLIE Against the eastern sky two rounded peaks, Half veiled in purple clouds, lift high their heads Above the ancient ramparts of Nanking. The rising sun begins to Heck their tops With gold, and bugle notes down in the town Announce the coming of another day. 'But all the glories spread so near at hand Are unobserved by eyes fixed on the ground. From early dawn unto the fading light With heads bowed down, and burdened backs, Ten thousand eoolics live to wear away Their lives in grinding, unremitting toil. Along tl1e roads we meet them, in long lines Straining at their ancient., crude wheel-barrows. NVG see men burdened down with stone and earth. VVe watch them slowly move like tortured souls, And hear the shriek of when-ls always unoiled. 'Ihc patient eoolies bend unto their task With straining muscles, streaming back and face. Again we see huge trucks, piled high with wares, With bulky crates and bales from foreign lands- And harnessed to the load a coolie group To tread the weary road. The heavy rop0S Stretehed taut across their naked backs bite deep But hauling at the ropes they struggle on. The merchant clad in silks, the haughty officer, Within the rieksha lolls in thoughtless CNSC -- While harnessed in the shafts before his face, With heaving breast, and wildly beating heart, A man, a soul, runs weary miles t0 llillll His human freight, and earn his daily bread. f 45 Q