'Hurt No Living Thing'

A brief, brilliant flash of literature from our archives: Christina Rossetti at her best

Christina Rossetti, 'Hurt No Living Thing'

Hurt no living thing: 

     Ladybird, nor butterfly, 

  Nor moth with dusty wing, 

     Nor cricket chirping cheerily, 

  Nor grasshopper so light of leap, 

     Nor dancing gnat, nor beetle fat, 

  Nor harmless worms that creep.

Five butterflies and moths, including the atlas moth by Jean Delarue (Wellcome Collection)

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You might also enjoy...

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Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/

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The Poetry Foundation: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/

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