The Lily and the Bee
The Lily and the Bee - meaning Summary
Small Things, Mutual Care
A speaker watches a lily illuminated by morning sun and notices a bee inside. The poem uses this simple scene to symbolize the lily as beauty, purity, faith and service, and the bee as beneficiary of the lily’s “wealth.” Lawson prompts readers to notice small, reciprocal relationships in nature and consider whether people pay attention to mutual dependence and quiet virtues embodied by living things.
Read Complete AnalysesI Looked upon the lilies When the morning sun was low, And the sun shone through a lily With a softened honey glow. A spot was in the lily That moved incessantly, And when I looked into the cup I saw a morning bee. Consider the lilies! But, it occurs to me, Does any one consider The lily and the bee? The lily stands for beauty, Use, purity, and trust, It does a four-fold duty, As all good mortals must. Its whiteness is to teach us, Its faith to set us free, Its beauty is to cheer us, And its wealth is for the bee. Consider the lilies! But, it occurs to me, Does any one consider The lily and the bee?
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