Time & Brevity

Water Lilies

by Sara Teasdale 1884–1933

From Modern American Poetry (1921)

Time & Brevity

If you have forgotten water-lilies floating
On a dark lake among mountains in the afternoon shade,
If you have forgotten their wet, sleepy fragrance,
Then you can return and not be afraid.

But if you remember, then turn away forever
To the plains and the prairies where pools are far apart,
There you will not come at dusk on closing water lilies,
And the shadow of mountains will not fall on your heart.

MLA

Teasdale, Sara. “Water Lilies.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/teasdale/138/.

Chicago

Teasdale, Sara. “Water Lilies.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/teasdale/138/.

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