Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE MARIPOSA LILY, by INA DONNA COOLBRITH


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE MARIPOSA LILY, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Insect or blossom? Fragile, fairy thing
Last Line: Thou winged bloom! Thou blossom-butterfly!
Subject(s): Flowers; Lilies; Plants; Planting; Planters


INSECT or blossom? Fragile, fairy thing,
Poised upon slender tip, and quivering
To flight! a flower of the fields of air;
A jewelled moth; a butterfly, with rare
And tender tints upon his downy wing,
A moment resting in our happy sight;
A flower held captive by a thread so slight
Its petal-wings of broidered gossamer
Are, light as the wind, with every wind astir, --
Wafting sweet odor, faint and exquisite.
O dainty nursling of the field and sky,
What fairer thing looks up to heaven's blue
And drinks the noontide sun, the dawning's dew?
Thou winged bloom! thou blossom-butterfly!




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