THE lilies, ah, the lilies! They stand superb in light, In field and bank and garden fair, A wonder to the sight; So rich their royal scarlet is, So pure their stainless white! Consider, then, the lilies, O heart of mine, to-day: They neither toil nor spin, to win Their beautiful array; I would that thou couldst live a life So fearless-sweet as they. They gather when the summer Her silver bugle thrills; When troop, to meet her shining feet, The bright, uncounted rills; And when the purple glories lie All softly o'er the hills. Each in her place appointed, The lily dwells serene; She cares not though the thistle blow Anear her leaf of green; Her neighbors cannot vex her soul, For she was born a queen. She fills the air with fragrance, She crowns the day with bloom; From dewy morn to darkling eve, Our shadows to illume, She bears a torch, divinely fed, And smiles away our gloom. Fair lilies, gentle teachers, Evangelists of love, The word that bids me heed your voice Is spoken from above; Ye are the gracious gift of Him In whom our spirits move. We too would wear unspotted The garments of the King, Would have the royal perfume About our paths to cling, And unto all beholders A lilied beauty bring. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE INCOGNITA OF RAPHAEL by WILLIAM ALLEN BUTLER STANZAS by GEORGE GORDON BYRON ON LORD HOLLAND'S SEAT NEAR MARGATE, KENT by THOMAS GRAY THE RIVER-MERCHANT'S WIFE: A LETTER by LI PO SONG FOR ALL SEAS, ALL SHIPS by WALT WHITMAN HINC LACHRIMAE; OR THE AUTHOR TO AURORA: 10 by WILLIAM BOSWORTH SONNET ON MOOR PARK; FORMERLY THE SEAT OF SIR WILLIAM TEMPLE by SAMUEL EGERTON BRYDGES |