From Ashes: The Crushed Flower (For Therese of Lisieux)

The flower that is me,
Crushed – in crushing, free.
Yet still
I wilt here to see
This dying beauty.
Until
You tread in victory,
I languish in me.

Crushed by foot, by sea
Of crowd’s apathy,
I will
Yet trust, Christ, in Thee,
Thorn-crowned on a tree,
Your will
Crushed; in crushing, free
The flower within me.