Femina Contra Mundum

Gilbert Keith Chesterton 1874 (Kensington, London) – 1936 (Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire)



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.'

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

40 sec read
132

Quick analysis:

Scheme XAXA XBXB XCXC XDED EFXF
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 757
Words 137
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4

Gilbert Keith Chesterton

Gilbert Keith Chesterton was an influential English writer of the early 20th century His diverse output included journalism philosophy poetry biography Christian apologetics fantasy and detective fiction Gilbert Keith Chesterton KC*SG was an English writer, philosopher, lay theologian, and literary and art critic. He has been referred to as the "prince of paradox". Time magazine observed of his writing style: "Whenever possible Chesterton made his points with popular sayings, proverbs, allegories—first carefully turning them inside out." more…

All Gilbert Keith Chesterton poems | Gilbert Keith Chesterton Books

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