TO THE IMAGE OF KUANYIN, GODDESS OF MERCY, SEATED ON A ROCK

by: C. Doyle

HERE

The Lady Kuanyin sits, the air

Is full of spray,

And there

It caught and damped her long black hair;

She smiles as if all day

There were

All around

Strange sea-beasts with tendrils found

And flashing wings and frightful necks

With fire-opal stripes and specks,

Sapphire waves that emerald flecks,

And a whole enchanted breeze,

And unknown coasts with distant trees,

And beaches starry with the twinkle

Of agates, where the commonest sea-winkle

Should be made

Of sea-green jade--

And exquisite sea-girls

With curling hair that grows

Just in the shape of a rose

Turned upside down, all curls,

And tiger teeth to tear

Whatever flesh

Of man or fish

Be there--

And in fantastic trails and sweeps

Of pink and gold the seaweed creeps

Up her rock, and there shall gay

Turquoise-warted starfish play,

And the sea

Anemone

Stranger than worldly ones shall be,

And rocks with outlines curved like flame

May all adore and know her name.

While below

Who shall know

What curious horrors wind and go

Deep beneath the island waves?

Or who the wretches Lady Kuanyin saves

From sorrow's drowning, or to whom

She lets her wavelets creep and come

To cool despair's hell-flame -- ah stronger far

Than deities that on altars are!

All these

She sits and sees,

And as well

The unending swell,

And quiet indescribable.

 

She sits upon my chimney-shelf

And sitting thinks, and smiles to herself,

Till all around the atmosphere

With her thoughts becomes so clear

That unhappiness could never be

Where they turn the air to sea.

And her face is white as spray

And white her robe as silver bay,

And there she sits and thinks and smiles--

As though she saw us also there,

Standing unaware,

In all the turquoise air

Among her isles.