The Lily and the Bee

I Looked upon the lilies
    When the morning sun was low,
And the sun shone through a lily
    With a softened honey glow.
A spot was in the lily
    That moved incessantly,
And when I looked into the cup
    I saw a morning bee.
        “Consider the lilies!”
            But, it occurs to me,
        Does any one consider
            The lily and the bee?

The lily stands for beauty,
    Use, purity, and trust,
It does a four-fold duty,
    As all good mortals must.
Its whiteness is to teach us,
    Its faith to set us free,
Its beauty is to cheer us,
    And its wealth is for the bee.

        “Consider the lilies!”
            But, it occurs to me,
        Does any one consider
            The lily and the bee?