ST JOSEPH S LILY AND THE LAUREL, BRIGHT (Anonymous)

Seasons come, seasons go,
The lily, St Josephs lily
lives in the memory of
Heath, laurel and liverwort and the berries
Berries, berries fresh sold by the bushel.
Oh laurel, who be more shamed, sad, withered
Wild, froth, surge, a horse, a lily
Berries on a black vine!
Wreath of laurel, bright white . . . .
St Joseph's lily, mulberry wine.
Blackberries, rasperbies, laurels and heaths
It is the cherry, the cherry and its fullsome flavour
Who reigns!

A vase, an amphora, a vessel, no cradles
Hold the St Joseph's lilies upright
And yet, yes, and yet, blooms on tall stalks,
They bend, bow, heads so large . . . .
Droop, hang down.
This beauty? Who wears a more glorious crown?
Yet so bowed, who can see?

The laurel. The laurel heath. . . .
Prestigious, recognition of excellence.
A wreath, and emblem o'er man's head
You have judged, marked Prestige, Excellence
Let Applaud and Magnificence be your
Deserved name

The laurel, the wreath, St Joseph's . . . .
Lily. . . . Bowed down, hides its heart
Does not display its crown
Come end of time . . .
The laurel, the lily of Joseph
Let neither be said inferior, neither the lesser of two.

And yet. . . And yet, what blooms then fades, disappears
In a vase? in a day? two? three? four? not more
The lily, the St Joseph's lily.

The wreath,the berry, berries-ripening quickly
On bushes, trees, vines, above ground
What rapid? not lasting long?
A week? two? not more than three
The berry, the berries, on bushes, trees, vines
Aha! the laurel - he king and queen
Gracing the heads of the prestigious,
Those prone to excellence,
Since years so far back, more back, back more
The laurel, the laurel tree . .
Its branches, twigs fashioned into most noble
Laurel wreath. The laurel in symbol and
Places divine . . .The laurel outlives
St Joseph, St Joseph's lily. . . till the end of time.