| Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882). Complete Poetical Works. 1893. | | | | Flower-de-Luce | | Flower-de-Luce |
| | | | The poems in this division were published under the title Flower-de-Luce in 1867. The title poem was written March 20, 1866. |
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BEAUTIFUL lily, dwelling by still rivers, | |
| Or solitary mere, | |
| Or where the sluggish meadow-brook delivers | |
| Its waters to the weir! | |
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| Thou laughest at the mill, the whir and worry | 5 |
| Of spindle and of loom, | |
| And the great wheel that toils amid the hurry | |
| And rushing of the flume. | |
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| Born in the purple, born to joy and pleasance, | |
| Thou dost not toil nor spin, | 10 |
| But makest glad and radiant with thy presence | |
| The meadow and the lin. | |
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| The wind blows, and uplifts thy drooping banner, | |
| And round thee throng and run | |
| The rushes, the green yeomen of thy manor, | 15 |
| The outlaws of the sun. | |
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| The burnished dragon-fly is thy attendant, | |
| And tilts against the field, | |
| And down the listed sunbeam rides resplendent | |
| With steel-blue mail and shield. | 20 |
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| Thou art the Iris, fair among the fairest, | |
| Who, armed with golden rod | |
| And winged with the celestial azure, bearest | |
| The message of some God. | |
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| Thou art the Muse, who far from crowded cities | 25 |
| Hauntest the sylvan streams, | |
| Playing on pipes of reed the artless ditties | |
| That come to us as dreams. | |
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| O flower-de-luce, bloom on, and let the river | |
| Linger to kiss thy feet! | 30 |
| O flower of song, bloom on, and make forever | |
| The world more fair and sweet. | | | |
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