Femina Contra Mundum

by Gilbert Keith Chesterton

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.'