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.