The Water Lily

A lonely young wife in her dreaming discerns

A lily-decked pool with a border of ferns

And a beautiful child with butterfly wins

Trips down to the edge of the water and sings

Come momma come

Quick follow me

Step out on the leaves of the water lily

And the lonely young wife her heart beating wild

Cries wait til’ I come til’ I reach you my child

But the beautiful child with butterfly wings

Steps out on the leaves of the lily and sings

Come momma come

Quick follow me

Step out on the leaves of the water lily

And the wife in her dreaming steps out on the stream

But the lily leaves sink and she wakes from her dream

Oh the waking is sad for the tears that it brings

For she knows it’s her dead baby’s sprit that sings

Come momma come

Quick follow me

Step out on the leaves of the water lily

Come momma come

Quick follow me

Step out on the leaves of the water lily