Transitory ‘Bell of May’, humble, perfumed, gone.
Giving man sight of a better world?
A treasure, but often overlooked.
Only those, who know and love you, know to see.
I began this poem as a little tribute to my favorite flower. But as I was doing my word research I saw more layers become applicable. I have included the sources that make the poem more broadly applicable.
In the ‘language of flowers’, the lily of the valley signifies the return of happiness.
As per Wikipedia, the Lily-of-the-Valley:
1) Is a symbol of humility in religious painting.
2) Lily of the valley is considered the sign of Christ's second coming.
3) The power of men to envision a better world was also attributed to the lily of the valley.
4) Other names include May lily, May bells, lily constancy, ladder-to-heaven, male lily and muguet (French). Its scientific name, majalis or maialis, means "of or belonging to May".
Transitory:
1: passing especially quickly into and out of existence
2: passing through or by a place with only a brief stay or sojourn
3: affecting something or producing results beyond itself
Mathew 6: 28-30 Behold the lilies of the field, how they grow. They labor not, neither spin. And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his royalty was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow shall be cast into the furnace, shall he not much more do the same unto you, o ye of little faith?
2 comments:
i became enamoured and perhaps even introduced to the lily of the valley, or muguet, in France. may day is a day for a hand bouquet of these. i also became enamoured of Diorissimo, a scent of these flowers.
There was a large bed of lillies of the valley at my last house, and I loved putting bunches of them in little bud vases next to my bed -- the minute I woke up in the morning I smelled spring, and I think I had happier dreams. When I own a house, I may put nothing against the northern exposure except these. They have the loveliest, sparest shape and a wonderful scent, and I love the contrast of the pure white against the large deep green leaves.
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