The saying goes: 
   “No mud - no lotus!”

But I can’t help but notice
   That the flower is long-stemmed,
   Raising it high above the mud.

A tropical newbie,
   I used to confuse 
   Lotuses & Water Lilies.
 Then I learned the simplest 
   Way to distinguish the flowers
   (From a distance)
   Is that Lily pads 
      Rest on the water,
      While Lotus leafs
      Also try to rise 
         above the muddy water.

I can’t help but wonder whether 
   Our admiration has made the
   Lotus too good for its mud?