Resilient Wayside Flowers

 

Wayside Flowers  

by William Allingham

 Pluck not the wayside flower,
It is the traveller's dower;
A thousand passers-by
Its beauties may espy,
May win a touch of blessing
From Nature's mild caressing.
The sad of heart perceives
A violet under leaves
Like sonic fresh-budding hope;
The primrose on the slope
A spot of sunshine dwells,
And cheerful message tells
Of kind renewing power;
The nodding bluebell's dye
Is drawn from happy sky.
Then spare the wayside flower!
It is the traveller's dower.

A trip up the lane to Coley is a joy on a day in May. At every step there are wildflowers and grasses to observe and enjoy.  Even though many of them are considered 'weeds' they have their own beauty. As the poet suggests, they are truly a gift. Some of them grow in the most inhospitable of places and their resilience and determination to survive is to be admired. Click here for a link to pictures I took.

"When a flower grows wild, it can always survive
Wildflowers don't care where they grow."

 

So said the great Dolly Parton in her song 'Wild flowers'. Click here to listen.

 

Here is an excellent article about the beauty and value of 'weeds'. 

 

Click here for details of an interesting walk around historic Coley.

 

Writing prompts:

• Have you ever been 'uprooted from yourself from your home ground' and lived somewhere else? Write about what happened.
• One of the definitions of a weed, and one of of the reasons people hate them, is that they grow where they are not wanted.  Write about a time when you have longed to be accepted, but have not felt wanted. Set a timer for six minutes.
• Weeds and wildflowers are often misunderstood and rejected. Write about a time when you have felt that way.  

Please click in the comments box for a poem kindly contributed by Sam.