Bindweed—Convulvulus Major.

Bindweed—Convulvulus Major.
I.

How gracefully the climbing Bindweed shows
Its next green leaves and beautiful white flowers,
Closing its bell ere night, or before showers
Fall on the thirsty ground: for Nature throws
Much to delight the eye profusely round. 5
All things in their right place are good; e’en this
Fair flower ’midst corn or gardens comes amiss,—
Running, like erring mortals, on the ground
Where it is most unwelcome: so that men
Call its intruding roots by a vile name. 10
As though they from the Prince of Evil came.*
Yet it is truly ornamental when
Planted where wanted, and train’d up to be
In its right place—the truest liberty.
(*Devil’s Gut.)
II.
Our fathers boil’d its spreading roots in ale 15
For physic, in the days they wisely went
To gather simples, just as Shakspere sent
Good Friar Lawrence in his touching tale
Of Mantua’s cursed feuds. Its pointed leaves
Bearded at base, would ready model be 20
For warriors’ lance, or English archery
To shape its arrow-heads: for the mind grieves
To see in every age how men are prone
To seek to injure rather than to bless—
To trample on each other—not caress,— 25
As though they loved to hear the shriek or moan
Of fellow-creatures suffering grief and pain,
Rather than aid to make them blest again.

George Markham Tweddell
[Sonnets on Trees and Flowers, pp. 32-33.] Also published
in The Voice of Masonry, Chicago, Illinois, U.S., Dec.,
1887.