Love came to Flora asking for a flower That would of flowers be undisputed queen, The lily and the rose, long, long had been Rivals for that high honour. Bards of power Had sung their claims. "The rose can never tower Like the pale lily with her Juno mien"— "But is the lily lovelier?" Thus between Flower factions rang the strife in Psyche's bower.

"Give me a flower delicious as the rose And stately as the lily in her pride"— "But of what colour?" — "Rose-red," Love first chose, Then prayed, — "No, lily-white, — or, both provide;" And Flora gave the lotus, "rose-red" dyed, And "lily-white", — the queenliest flower that blows

Pick a word from the poem which means "poets"?

Question

Love came to Flora asking for a flower That would of flowers be undisputed queen, The lily and the rose, long, long had been Rivals for that high honour. Bards of power Had sung their claims. "The rose can never tower Like the pale lily with her Juno mien"— "But is the lily lovelier?" Thus between Flower factions rang the strife in Psyche's bower.

"Give me a flower delicious as the rose And stately as the lily in her pride"— "But of what colour?" — "Rose-red," Love first chose, Then prayed, — "No, lily-white, — or, both provide;" And Flora gave the lotus, "rose-red" dyed, And "lily-white", — the queenliest flower that blows

Pick a word from the poem which means "poets"?

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 1:

**Detailed explanation of why it is correct:**

The correct word from the poem that means "poets" is "Bards," which corresponds to Option 1. The term "Bard" is a historical word, originally referring to ancient Celtic poets who composed and sang verses, often epics, celebrating the heroic achievements of tribal chiefs and warriors. Over time, particularly in English literature, "Bard" became a formal or poetic term for any poet, especially a celebrated one (such as "The Bard of Avon" referring to Shakespeare). In the context of the poem, the line "Bards of power / Had sung their claims" refers to powerful poets who have written verses praising either the lily or the rose, arguing for which flower deserves the title of "undisputed queen." This usage directly aligns with the definition of "poets" who use their literary skill (their "power") to describe and advocate for the flowers' attributes. Thus, "Bards" functions as a direct synonym for "poets" within this literary context.

**Explanation of why each of the other three options is incorrect:**

The incorrect option is 2: **Juno**
Juno is a figure from Roman mythology, the queen of the gods, and the protector of marriage and women. In the poem, "Juno mien" is used as a reference to the lily's majestic or stately appearance, suggesting a queenly presence. Therefore, Juno is a proper noun referring to a goddess and does not mean "poets."

The incorrect option is 3: **Psyche**
In Greek mythology, Psyche is the goddess of the soul, typically depicted as a beautiful woman with butterfly wings. In the poem, the conflict among the flower factions takes place in "Psyche's bower," meaning a garden or a chamber associated with the soul or the spirit. Psyche is a proper noun referring to a mythological figure and a concept (the soul), not "poets."

The incorrect option is 4: **Mien**
The word "mien" is a noun that refers to a person's look, manner, bearing, or appearance, especially one that indicates their character or mood. The poem uses it when describing the lily: "Like the pale lily with her Juno mien." This describes the lily's queenly appearance or demeanor. The word "mien" is related to appearance and posture, not the profession of a "poet."