Canterbury Bells. (Trachelium majus.)

Canterbury Bells.
(Trachelium majus.)

Blooming beneath the woodland’s pleasant shade,
Square stalk’d, with leaves indented from broad base
To their fine points, here plentiful, though scarce
In open plains, are flowers that might upbraid
All useless men and women, seeing they 5
Combine both use and beauty. So should we,
Dear Canterbury Bells, be not less than ye!
White, pinky, blue, your flowers are ever gay
As they are graceful; and to Fancy’s ear
They ring out sweetest music. Though the dull 10
And worldly mind ne’er heeds how beautiful
Are your fine Bells, yet it is very clear
As your name, Throat-wort, very plainly tells,
Our fathers knew the use of Canterbury Bells.

George Markham Tweddell
[Sonnets on Trees and Flowers, p. 42]