Sea Lily (H. D.) by Hilda Doolittle
The poem explores themes of resilience and beauty in the face of adversity. It presents a vivid image of a sea lily, symbolizing fragility and strength. The speaker describes the sea lily's torn and battered state, emphasizing its rich essence despite the harshness of its environment. The imagery of wind, sand, and flint illustrates the challenges the sea lily endures, yet it remains elevated and defiant. The juxtaposition of destruction and beauty highlights the complexity of existence, suggesting that true strength lies in the ability to withstand life's trials while maintaining one's inherent grace. The poem ultimately celebrates the enduring spirit of nature, portraying the sea lily as a testament to survival and the beauty that can emerge from struggle.
By Hilda Doolittle · First published 1920 · Genre: Poetry, Modernism, Feminist Literature · 135 words
First lines
Reed, slashed and torn, but doubly rich -- such great heads as yours drift upon temple-steps, but you are shattered in the wind.
Myrtle-bark is flecked from you, scales are dashed from your stem, sand cuts your petal, furrows it with hard edge, like flint on a bright stone.
Yet though the whole wind slash at your bark, you are lifted up, aye -- though it hiss to cover you with froth.
What this Textopian page supports
Sea Lily (H. D.) is listed on Textopian as a poem by Hilda Doolittle, dated 1920 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Hilda Doolittle
- Date: 1920 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Modernism, Feminist Literature
- Length: 135 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Work identity for Sea Lily (H. D.) by Hilda Doolittle
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Poetry — H. D. is an acclaimed modernist poet, and this work is a collection of poems.
- Modernism — H. D.'s work is often associated with the modernist movement, emphasizing fragmentation and defamiliarization.
- Feminist Literature — H. D.'s work often explores feminine identity and gender roles, which is a characteristic of feminist literature.
Tags
modernism · imagism · nature · symbolism · feminism · poetry · love · identity · transience · beauty · mythology · sensuality