Lines with a Gift of Herbs

The summer's residue

In aromatic leaf,

Shrunken and dry, yet true

In fragrance, their belief,

These from the hard earth drew

Essence of rosemary,

Of lavender, faintly blue,

While unconfused nearby

From the same earth distilled

Grey sage and savory,

Each one distinctly willed,-

Stoic morality

JANET LEWIS

The Emperor said: "Though all

Conspire to break thy will,

Clear stone, thou emerald, shall

Be ever emerald still."

And these, small, unobserved,

Through summer chemistry,

Have all their might conserved

In treasure, finally.

Janet Lewis

Structure

22 lines · 6 stanzas