I Have Considered the Lilies

I have considered the lilies:
they never toil; they only bloom.
They never feel chilly or tired or silly
and they don’t need much room.
I have considered the lilies;
I have considered how they grow.
Tell me, tell me how to be a lily,
if you know.
Oh, lilies toil not, neither do they spin.
I’m gonna take my working papers and turn them in.
I’m handing over my pencil and pen;
I won’t be needing my broom again.
I’ll bloom by day; I’ll bloom by night -
and blooming will be my delight.
Wry tiger-lily, still water-lily,
see how they all dilly-dally!
Look at the day-lily, lemon-lily, calla-lily,
and the lovely little lilies-of-the-valley.
Oh, lilies toil not, neither do they spin.
I’m gonna take my working papers and turn them in.
To be more splendid than Solomon,
I walk around wearing the morning sun.
The sun by day, the moon by night -
and blooming will be my delight.
It would be fun, but I’m afraid that I would freeze.
King Solomon was not arrayed like one of these.
So, lilies, I can’t afford to dilly-dally.
I’ve got to work for my cotton, work for my denim,
linen and damask and challis -
Not like the daylily, lemon-lily, calla-lily,
and the lovely little lilies-of-the-valley.
I have considered the lilies;
I have considered how they grow.
Tell me, tell me how to be a lily,
if you know.