Love came to Flora asking for a flower <br />That would of flowers be undisputed queen, <br />The lily and the rose, long, long had been <br />Rivals for that high honor. Bards of power <br />Had sung their claims. 'The rose can never tower <br />Like the pale lily with her Juno mien' - <br />'But is the lily lovelier?' Thus between <br />Flower-factions rang the strife in Psyche's bower. <br />'Give me a flower delicious as the rose <br />And stately as the lily in her pride' - <br />But of what color?' - 'Rose-red,' Love first chose, <br />Then prayed - 'No, lily-white - or, both provide;' <br />And Flora gave the lotus, 'rose-red' dyed, <br />And 'lily-white' - the queenliest flower that blows.<br /><br />Toru Dutt<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/love-came-to-flora-asking-for-a-flower/
