Femina Contra Mundum

Portrait of G.K. Chesterton
G.K. Chesterton 1874–1936

The sun was black with judgment, and the moon Blood: but between I saw a man stand, saying: 'To me at least The grass is green.

'There was no star that I forgot to fear With love and wonder. The birds have loved me'; but no answer came -- Only the thunder.

Once more the man stood, saying: 'A cottage door, Wherethrough I gazed That instant as I turned -- yea, I am vile; Yet my eyes blazed.

'For I had weighed the mountains in a balance, And the skies in a scale, I come to sell the stars -- old lamps for new -- Old stars for sale.'

Then a calm voice fell all the thunder through, A tone less rough: 'Thou hast begun to love one of my works Almost enough.'

Keep reading

Discover more of G.K. Chesterton’s poetry.

Explore all poems

Readers

Reader discussion

Your turn

Shown with your comment.

Never published. Only so we can reach you.

Comments are read before they appear. See our terms.