Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE LILY-POOL AND THE COW, by THOMAS EDWARD BROWN Poet's Biography First Line: What sees our mailie in the lily-pool Last Line: "from off this most sufficient, absolute lily-pool!" Alternate Author Name(s): Brown, T. E. Subject(s): Cows; Lakes; Pools; Ponds | ||||||||
WHAT sees our mailie in the lily-pool, What sees she with that large surprise? What sees our mailie in the lily-pool With all the violet of her big eyes -- Our mailie in the lily-pool? She sees herself within the lily-pool, Herself in flakes of brown and white -- Herself beneath the slab that is the lily-pool, The green and liquid slab of light With cups of silver dight, Stem-rooted in the depths of amber night That hold the hollows of the lily-pool -- Our own dear lily-pool! And does she gaze into the lily-pool As one that is enchanted? Or does she try the cause to find How the reflection's slanted, That sleeps within the lily-pool? Or does she take it all for granted, With the sweet natural logic of her kind? The lazy logic of the lily-pool, Our own bright, innocent, stupid lily-pool! She knows that it is nice -- our lily-pool: She likes the water-rings around her knees; She likes the shadow of the trees, That droop above the lily-pool; She likes to scatter with a silly sneeze The long-legged flies that skim the lily-pool -- The peaceful-sleeping, baby lily-pool. So may I look upon the lily-pool, Nor ever in the slightest care Why I am there; Why upon land and sea Is ever stamped the inevitable me; But rather say with that most gentle fool: -- "How pleasant is this lily-pool! How nice and cool! Be off, you long-legged flies! O what a spree! To drive the flies from off the lily-pool! From off this most sufficient, absolute lily-pool!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A MAN GETS OFF WORK EARLY by THOMAS LUX THE FRIARY AT BLOSSOM, PROLOGUE & INSTRUCTIONS by NORMAN DUBIE SONGS FOR TWO SEASONS: 2. RED POND by CAROL FROST A SERMON AT CLEVEDON; GOOD FRIDAY by THOMAS EDWARD BROWN |
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