SEA LILY

by H. D. (Hilda Doolittle)

Reed,
slashed and torn,
but doubly rich?
such great heads as yours
drift upon temple-steps,
but you are shattered
in the wind.

Myrtle-bark
is flecked from you,
scales are dashed
from your stem,
sand cuts your petal,
furrows it with hard edge,
like flint
on a bright stone.

Yet though the whole wind
slash at your bark,
you are lifted up,
aye?though it hiss
to cover you with froth