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A Picture of Lee Ying
作者Author  /  Thomas  Merton  多瑪斯•牟敦

A Picture of Lee Ying

 
 
 
  She wears old clothes she holds a borrowed handker-
chief and her sorrow show us the papers have bad
news again today Lee Ying only 19 has to return to
China

Days on foot with little or no food the last six days
on water alone now she must turn back

Three hundred thousand like her must turn back to
China there is no room say the officials in Hong
Kong you must go back where you came from

Point of no return is the caption but this is meaning-
less she must return that is the story

She would not weep if she had reached a point of no
return what she wants is not to return

There is no place for her and no point for thousands
like her there is no point

Their flight from had news to worse news has caused
alarm

Refugees suffer and authorities feel alarm the press
does not take sides

We know all about the sorrow of Lee Ying one glance
is enough we look at something else

She must go back where she came from no more need
be said

Whenever the authorities are alarmed everyone must
return to China

We too know all about sorrow we have seen it in the
movies

You have our sympathy Miss Lee Ying you must go
where we are sorry for your future

Too had some people get all the rough breaks the au-
thorities regret

Refugees from China have caused alarm

When the authorities are alarmed what can you do

You can return to China

Their alarm is worse than your sorrow

Please do not look only at the dark side in private
life these are kind men

They are only obeying orders

Over there is Red China where you will remain in
future

There also the authorities are alarmed and they too
obey orders

Please do not look only at the dark side

All the newspapers in the free world explain why
you return their readers understand how you feel

You have the sympathy of millions

As a tribute to your sorrow we resolve to spend more
money on nuclear weapons there is always a bright
side

If this were only a movie a boat would be available
have you ever seen our movies they end happily

You would lean at the rail with "him" the sun would
set on China kiss and fade

You would marry one of the kind authorities

In our movies there is no law higher than love in real
life duty is higher

You would not want the authorities to neglect duty

How do you life the image of the fee world sorry
you cannot stay

This is the first and last time we will see you in our
papers

When you are back home remember us we will be
having a good time
 

 
   
***This poem is by Thomas Merton, from BREAD IN THE WILDERNESS, copyright ©
1963 by The Abbey of Gethesemani, Inc.
Reprinted by permission of New Direction Publishing Corp. 2002-2003
 
   
 
   
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