The Lotus Poem by Toru Dutt | The Lotus Poem | The Lotus | Toru Dutt | Explanation | Summary | Key Points | Word Meaning | Critical Appreciation | Questions Answers | Free PDF Download – Easy Literary Lessons
The Lotus
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.
The Lotus Poem Analysis
Line 1: Love came to Flora asking for a flower
Explanation: Love, the god of love, comes to Flora, the goddess of flowers, and asks her for a flower.
Line 2: That would of flowers be undisputed queen
Explanation: Love wants a flower that will be the undisputed queen of all flowers, meaning the most beautiful and perfect flower of all.
Line 3: The lily and the rose, long, long had been
Explanation: The lily and the rose have long been rivals for the title of the most beautiful flower.
Line 4: Rivals for that high honour. Bards of power
Explanation: Poets have sung the praises of both flowers, but neither one has been able to definitively defeat the other.
Line 5: Had sung their claims. “The rose can never tower
Explanation: The bards have praised the rose for its beauty and fragrance, but they have also said that it cannot tower over the lily, which is taller and more stately.
Line 6: Like the pale lily with her Juno mien”
Explanation: The lily is often compared to Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage and childbirth, because of its tall stature and regal appearance.
Line 7: “But is the lily lovelier?” Thus between
Explanation: The bards have also praised the lily for its beauty and purity, but they have asked whether it is truly more beautiful than the rose.
Line 8: Flower-factions rang the strife in Psyche’s bower.
Explanation: The debate over which flower is more beautiful has raged for centuries, and it has caused a great deal of strife among flower lovers.
Line 9: “Give me a flower delicious as the rose
Explanation: Love finally tells Flora what he wants: a flower that is as delicious as the rose.
Line 10: And stately as the lily in her pride”-
Explanation: He also wants a flower that is as stately as the lily.
Line 11: “But of what colour?”- “Rose-red,” Love first chose,
Explanation: Love first asks for a flower that is rose-red.
Line 12: Then prayed, -“No, lily-white,-or, both provide”;
Explanation: But then he changes his mind and asks for a flower that is lily-white, or that is both rose-red and lily-white.
Line 13: And Flora gave the lotus, “rose-red” dyed,
Explanation: Flora gives Love the lotus flower, which is both rose-red and lily-white.
Line 14: And “lily-white,”- the queenliest flower that blows.
Explanation: Flora calls the lotus flower the queenliest flower that blows, meaning that it is the most beautiful and perfect flower of all.
