Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Asia: Vols. XXI–XXIII. 1876–79.
In a Mountain Pass West of Pekin
By John T. Gulick (1832–1923)W
The oldest of the continents grows young
With the verdure of ten thousand summers flung
Across her rugged peaks. From Samarcand
Down to the groves on Niphon’s sunny strand,
No richer veil of beauty ever hung
On mountains built of primal rock. Though sung
By Grecian bards, the glory of this land
Would be too faintly shown. But now as light,
All joyous from the heart of dewy night,
Pours down the hills and floods the meadow lawn,
The wondrous revelation comes to those
Who reverent wait beneath the opening dawn,
As angels waited when creation rose.