Poem Analysis - The Water Lily

Introduction: A Dream of Loss

Henry Lawson's "the water lily" is a poignant exploration of grief and longing for a lost child. The poem unfolds through a dream, initially appearing idyllic but quickly turning melancholic. Lawson uses simple language and evocative imagery to convey the profound sadness of a young wife haunted by the memory of her deceased baby. The tone shifts from a hopeful, almost whimsical invitation to a heartbreaking realization of permanent separation, leaving the reader with a sense of deep sorrow.

Maternal Love and Grief's Grip

One central theme is the enduring power of maternal love. The young wife's desperate desire to reach her child is evident in her immediate response to the dream's invitation. Her "heart beating wild" underscores the intensity of her longing. However, this love is inextricably linked to the theme of grief. The dream itself is a manifestation of her sorrow and her inability to accept the child's death. The sinking lily leaves symbolize the futility of her attempts to bridge the gap between the living and the dead. Finally, the poem touches upon spiritual longing, hinting at a desire to transcend earthly limitations and reunite with the departed child in some ethereal realm.

The Water Lily: Symbol of Hope and Illusion

The water lily serves as a powerful symbol throughout the poem. Initially, it represents hope and a pathway to reunion. The "lily-decked pool" and "leaves of the water-lily" create an illusion of accessibility and a bridge to the child. However, this hope is quickly revealed to be illusory. The sinking leaves represent the crushing weight of reality and the impossibility of overcoming death. The lily, therefore, transforms from a symbol of hope to one of heartbreaking deception. It represents the tantalizing yet ultimately unreachable nature of dreams and the solace they offer in the face of profound loss.

Butterfly Wings: A Fleeting Presence

The image of the child with butterfly wings is particularly striking. Butterflies are often associated with transformation, freedom, and the soul. In this context, the wings suggest the child's ethereal nature and their transition to the afterlife. They emphasize the child's separation from the earthly realm and their existence in a different, unreachable plane. The wings also contribute to the dreamlike quality of the poem, further blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. Perhaps the butterfly represents the fleeting nature of life itself, and the fragility of the connection between mother and child.

The Bitter Truth of Waking

The final stanza encapsulates the poem's central message: the pain of waking from a dream that offered a glimpse of reunion. "Ah, the waking is sad, / for the tears that it brings" highlights the devastating reality that follows the brief respite of the dream. The poem ends not with resolution but with a stark acknowledgement of loss. The wife now knows that it is the spirit of her "dead baby" calling to her, underscoring the permanence of her grief. The final repetition of the invitation to "step out on the leaves of the water-lily" serves as a haunting reminder of the unbridgeable divide between the living and the dead.