lily has a rose
(i have none)
“don’t cry dear violet
you may take mine”

“o how how how
could i ever wear it now
when the boy who gave it to
you is the tallest of the boys”

“he’ll give me another
if i let him kiss me twice
but my lover has a brother
who is good and kind to all”

“o no no no
let the roses come and go
for kindness and goodness do
not make a fellow tall”

lily has a rose
no rose i’ve
and losing’s less than winning(but
love is more than love)

Analysis, meaning and summary of e.e. cummings's poem lily has a rose

4 Comments

  1. Elena says:

    The poem represents that goodness and kindness do not equate to power and monopoly, but only momentary and fleeting recognition.

  2. tasha taylor says:

    well this poem is a good poem i can really put what i feel aboout it inb words but one thing that i do know is that it seems as if he is makein the little thing souds so big and i like that……

  3. aubrey says:

    this poem to me represents the innosence of something and then theb power of a country during war which is the heighth of the boy

  4. stephanie says:

    i keep reading this poem, and at first, it seems like lily just has a rose, and that’s it. but the more i read it and think about it, i realize that a rose is the symbol for innocence, and maybe the rose being given is representing the loss of innocence.
    but, i am still thinking about this poem, because innocence is only a concept, and nothing more. but i do think this poem is absolutely wonderful.

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