04/04/2005
Rose, harsh rose
marred and with stint of petals,
meagre flower, thin,
sparse of leaf,more precious
than a wet rose
single on a stem --
you are caught in the drift.Stunted, with small leaf,
you are flung on the sand,
you are lifted
in the crisp sand
that drives in the wind.Can the spice-rose
drip such acrid fragrance
hardened in a leaf?

H.D, 1886-1961, "Sea Rose", Sea Garden, 1916

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