image: Holy-grass in flower, May, Near the Ring o Brodgar
Holy-grass in flower
A rare grass
lights up the field,
its sweet scent
is all around
a shimmer-grass
glows with the light
given off by
all living things
holy-grass has its own
spikelets, its own
spreading flowerheads
and its own holy shape
coming into flower
inflo —
infloresce —
inflorescence
Holy-grass, a blessing
Hierochloe odorata
Holy-grass is sweetgrass
on chapel floors strewn wide,
sweetgrass is holy-grass
by running streams fructified.
Braids of gold and green
their own scent will keep,
hung above beds serene
to bring a blessed sleep.
image: Inverted photograms of Holy-grass
WHEN THE GRASS DANCES 