The Lotus
by
Toru Dutt
(Poem)
The Lotus
Love
came to Flora asking for a flower
That
would of flowers be undisputed queen,
The
lily and the rose, long, long had been
Rivals
for that high honour. Bards of power
Had
sung their claims. "The rose can never tower
Like
the pale lily with her Juno mien"--
"But
is the lily lovelier?" Thus between
Flower-factions
rang the strife in Psyche's bower.
"Give
me a flower delicious as the rose
And
stately as the lily in her pride"--
"But
of what colour?"--"Rose-red," Love first chose,
Then
prayed,--"No, lily-white,--or, both provide;"
And
Flora gave the lotus, "rose-red" dyed,
And "lily-white,"--the queenliest flower that blows.
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