--Service of the Sod--

From the Poem "Earth's Tribute"

 

First the grain, and then the blade—
The one destroyed, the other made;
Then stalk and blossom, and again
The gold of newly minted grain.

So Life, by Death the reaper cast
To earth, again shall rise at last;
For 't is the service of the sod
To render God the things of God.

And he said, So is the kingdom of God,

as if a man should cast seed into the ground;

And should sleep, and rise night and day,

and the seed should spring and grow up,

he knoweth not how.

For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself;

first the blade, then the ear,

after that the full corn in the ear.

Mark 4:26-28