The Water Lilies

Poem by Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly Collection PoussièresPeriod 19th century

To the Baroness de B…

Come! beautiful blue bird, come sing
your romance to Madame…
Suzanne.

« You will never put in your
« amorous Flora, the white Water Lily
« that is called… »
A first letter.

White water lilies, O lilies of the limpid waters,
Snow rising from the depths of their azure,
Who, sleeping on your damp stems,
Need, to sleep, a pure bed;
Flowers of modesty, yes! you are too proud
To let yourselves be picked… and live after.
White water lilies, sleep on your rivers,
I will never pick you!

White water lilies, O flowers of the dreamy waters,
If you dream, what then do you dream of?…
For to dream one must be in love,
One must have a heart taken… or jealous;
But you, O flowers that the water bathes and protects,
For you, to dream… is to breathe in the cool air!
White water lilies, sleep in your snow!
I will never pick you!

White water lilies, flowers of the numbed waters
Whose whiteness makes ardent hearts cold,
Who plunge into your lukewarm waters
When the sun shines there, white water lilies!
Stay hidden in the coves of rivers,
In the mists, under the thick willows…
Of God’s flowers you are the last!
I will never pick you!

Jules Barbey d’Aurevilly

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