How do you measure the rose?

How do you measure the rose?
By the blood spilled from a finger by its thorns.
How do you measure the snow?
By the southflying geese and the reindeer’s horns.

How do I measure the sky?
With the storm and the span of hummingbird wings.
How do I measure the tides?
With the beach and the song that the hurricane sings.

How do you measure the gems?
By the light which dances inside.
How do you measure the sun?
By the heat of a burn from the fire in the sky.

How do I measure the flames?
By the tears that the snow nearby cries.
How do I measure the pain?
By the broken-winged bird who looks up at the sky.

How do you measure the moon?
By the hallowed shadow it casts on the water.
How do you measure how soon?
By hundreds or fractions of tomorrows.

And how shall I measure the world?
And the love of all on its lands?
For this, it seems, to jaded girls,
You need only a few grains of sand.