The Lotus Poem by peiyoesh kharol

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.

~Toru Dutt