The Irony of the Definition

The Thistle

My presence

in the

garden

for most

invokes

a smile.

 

My color’s

so

bright,

it glows,

but

falsehood

flows.

For

the

gardener,

whose hand

nurtured

me

to

grow,

did not

know

my

meaning.

 

It

is not

joy

in the

morning,

but

a bold

resistance,

sorrow,

and

mourning.

 

Hatred,

disregard,

and

retaliation

are my

obligation,

but only

by

definition.

 

The

root

of my

being,

no harm

could

ensue,

for

despite

my

spiky

appearance,

I

am

soft

and

fragile

and

grow

tall,

to

above

all,

assist

in

cooking

and

beauty,

and

keeping

you

healthy.

Thistle Budd

Color Glows

Thistle Standing Tall

For Cooking, Beauty, and Health

In the language of flowers the Thistle, also known as safflower, has meanings that do not at all reflect the  beauty and intrigue of the bud or flower.  The meanings of the thistle were featured in the poem above and include: misanthrope, defiance, vengeance, and grief.

I find it somewhat ironic that these words are associated with a flower that is so pretty and is thought to have useful medicinal properties such as: preventing heart disease and stroke, lowering fevers, treating coughs and breathing problems, tumors, pain, and clotting conditions, in addition to other medical uses.  The oil from safflower seed is used as a cooking oil.  The flower is used to color cosmetics and to dye fabrics.  Ref: WebMd

Please note that I am in now way recommending the use of the flower for any of the above referenced purposes.  However, I thought it of interest and wanted to provide a background for the poem above.