Living

Song III

by Maurice Maeterlinck 1862–1949

Translated by Jethro Bithell (1911) · From Contemporary Belgian Poetry (1911)

Living

Three little maidens they have slain
To find out what their hearts contain

The first of them was brimmed with bliss,
And everywhere her blood was shed
For full three years three serpents hiss.

The second full of kindness sweet,
And everywhere her blood was shed,
Three lambs three years have grass to eat.

The third was full of pain and rue,
And everywhere her blood was shed,
Three seraphim watch three years through.

MLA

Maeterlinck, Maurice. “Song III.” Translated by Jethro Bithell. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/maurice-maeterlinck/17/.

Chicago

Maeterlinck, Maurice. “Song III.” Translated by Jethro Bithell. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/maurice-maeterlinck/17/.

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