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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Mystical Verse  »  124. The Blade of Grass

Nicholson & Lee, eds. The Oxford Book of English Mystical Verse. 1917.

Dora Greenwell (1821–1882)

124. The Blade of Grass

‘A sword shall go through thine own heart.’—Prophecy of Simeon


OH! little blade of grass,

A little sword thou art,

That in thy haste to pass

Hast pierced thy mother’s heart!

Oh! little blade of grass,

A little tongue thou art

Of cleaving flame,—alas!

Thou hast cleft thy mother’s heart.

Oh! little blade, upcurled

Leaf, sword, or fiery dart,

To win thy Father’s world

Thou must break thy mother’s heart!