My Life in Flowers

 

 

Daisies are our silver,

Buttercups our gold

Has been engraved upon my heart

Since I was three years old.

 

 My mother loved the countryside

And made me so aware 

 of the beauty of the seasons

And the treasures lying there.

 

Cowslips, snowdrops, violets

That heralded the spring

Crocuses and hyacinths

From the bulbs that she'd put in ,

 

Off we'd go a roaming

Along the country lanes

Admiring all the flowers

And learning all their names.

 

Ragged Robins, Old man's beard,

Wild cherry galore,

Breathing in the honeysuckle

Growing round the door.

 

 The fairies in our garden

Though they were never seen

Used dog roses and foxgloves

To clothe the Fairy Queen.

 

Clematis, wisteria

Climbing up the wall.

A myriad of rose petals

To deck the fairy ball.

Bluebells in the beech woods 

around my childhood home

Forever in my heart

wherever I may roam.

 

Blossom in the orchard

Cherry, plum and pear 

Making springtime magical

their perfume fills the air.

Pinks and phlox and peonies 

to brighten up the day,

Poppies in the cornfields

Lying in the hay.

 

Plants to use for cooking

Upon the window sill

Rosemary, sage and parsley

A little pot of dill.

 

On holiday in Scotland

With thistles and with heather

A purple haze surrounds us

Never mind the weather.

 

Lupins, lilac, buddleia

Lavender and thyme

Carnations for a wedding

In the summertime.

 

Delphiniums and snapdragons

Dandelions galore

Zinnias, petunias

By the kitchen door.

 

Then as I entered adulthood

My true love came along

Red roses would arrive for me

I knew you were the one.

 

 Jasmine flowers tucked inside

The love letters  you sent

Would make my head go spinning

With their lovely scent,

Whisked away to meet

my future mother-in-law,

A bunch of gladioli

As we stood outside her door. 

Then I was transplanted 

To a very different land

With lemon flowers, hibiscus

Bougainvillea, oh so grand.

 

Exotic looking flowers

Overflowing in pots

Plumbago that reminds me

Of blue forget-me-nots.

 

Freesias for our wedding

Pinned into my hair

then sent often to remind me

Of just how much you care.

 

Your passion was the mountains

Your beloved Dolomites,

You secretly brought home for me

White velvet edelweiss.

 My heart is filled with love for you

As I while away the hours

There's nothing more romantic

Than a man that gives me flowers.

 

 

For Mario, with love, Thank you for the flowers