A Poem by Rose Hu, Prisoner of Mao’s Labor Camps for 26 Years

The following is a poem written by Rose Hu. She was the president of the Legion of Mary in China in the 1950s and suffered imprisonment for twenty-six years (1955-1981). Rose is still living. She wrote a beatuful book, Joy in Suffering, in exquiste prose about her ordeal. The following poem was published in 2007.

VINE

I WAS STRUGGLING IN THE WIND;

TRUDGING IN THE RAIN.

NO GORGEOUS BLOSSOMS

OR FRAGRANT SMELL.

NO ONE WILL TAKE ME AS HIS FAVORITE;

NOWHERE TO HANG ME FOR DECORATION.

BECAUSE OF MY NOTHINGNESS,

I OUGHT TO BE IGNORED AND MISUNDERSTOOD.

 

ONLY ONE GOAL I HOLD:

NO MATTER THE WEATHER IS GOOD OR BAD,

OR WHAT THE WORLD WILL THINK ABOUT,

I JUST KEEP ON GROWING UP TO THE TOP!

 

LOOK AT THE PATHS IN MY PAST;

FULL OF WINDING AND WINDING;

TORTUROUS AFTER TORTUROUS BRANCHES,

MADE MY BYGONES DRAMATIC!

UP AND UP, ONE STEP AFTER ONE STEP,

NEARER TO GOD.

 

SOON I’LL ENJOY BATHING IN THE GOLDEN RAYS OF SUNLIGHT,

I NEVER REGRET OFFERING PEOPLE A PLACE OF SHADE.