Sea Lily

Reed,

slashed and torn

but doubly rich—

such great heads as yours

5

drift upon temple-steps,

but you are shattered

in the wind.

Myrtle-bark

is flecked from you,

10

scales are dashed

from your stem,

sand cuts your petal,

furrows it with hard edge,

like flint

15

on a bright stone.

Yet though the whole wind

slash at your bark,

you are lifted up,

aye—though it hiss

20

to cover you with froth.

—
H. D.

Sea Garden, 1916