“Fresh smitten by the morning ray,
When thou art up, alert and gay,
Then, cheerful Flower! my spirits play
With kindred gladness:
And when, at dusk, by dews oppressed
Thou sink'st, the image of thy rest
Hath often eased my pensive breast
Of careful sadness.”
William Wordsworth, To the Daisy
First Poem,1802
Last week, as the weather was
hotting up after the recent long spell of cold and rain, the grass fields were
becoming luscious green and speckled with white daisies.
On our walk, a little girl in a bright
yellow frock ran to the young woman sitting at a bench under the big leafy
maple tree at the edge of the field. The woman was looking intently at her
phone. The girl had a handful of these white flowers. She put them all in woman’s
lap and exclaimed “Mummy, I have picked some stars for you.” Both started laughing and hugging. They soon became busy in making a daisy chain.
I was impressed by the child’s
imaginative metaphor. The large field WAS indeed looking like a vast expanse of
green sky with bright stars. Not only that, just like stars they were arranged randomly
in clusters like constellations! The daisies in grass fields are a common sight
but I have never perceived the whole scenario in this wonderful, exalted way.
I always loved these small bright
flowers. I keep delaying mowing of our lawn just to keep the daisies blooming for
a bit longer. These flowers close their petals at sunset and open looking fresh
in the morning when the sun comes up. That is why someone looking fresh and
full of energy in the morning (after a good night sleep) is said to look “as fresh
as a daisy”. “Whoops-a-daisy” is a common exclamation used after a stumble or a
gaffe. It comes from a phrase used in 1800s “ups-a-daisy” used to encourage a
child to get up after a fall.
The name daisy itself comes from
the old English "daes eage," meaning "day's eye." The long
white petals opening like eye lashes revealing the bright yellow circular disc
in the centre.
In various cultures Daisies have
come to symbolize innocence, purity, freshness, demureness, beauty and humility.
No wonder William Wordsworth penned four poems exclusively on Daisies!
Or sprightly maiden of Love’s court,
In thy simplicity the sport
Of all temptations;
A queen in crown of rubies drest;
A starveling in a scanty vest;
Are all, as seems to suit thee best
Thy appellations.”
William Wordsworth, To the Same Flower Second Poem,1802
