So many names, how can I choose?
Wild bachelor’s buttons,
Cornflowers,
Blue daisies,
Ragged sailors,
Chicory.
Your delicate, blue petals tremble in a breeze,
Tough stems stretch toward the sun,
Blue eyes open for one day only.
You are called hendibeh in the East,
Witloof in Belgium,
Succory to the Romans.
So many names, one humble flower.
Some say you open doors, deep magic.
I try to see through your fae portal.
You open to the sky, following the sun.
Some call you a weed, some add you to salad,
Some roast your taproot to balance coffee.
I’ll call you a wildflower.
I’ll admire you on the wayside,
A flower more ancient than humankind.
Your humble eyes look beyond me,
Your roots are in the distant past.
Perhaps your soft blue eyes
Will smile on my grandchildren,
Long after I’m gone.
Copyright 2014 Brenda Davis Harsham
Note: This flower is chicory, a common wildflower all over the world, used as an herb, a coffee additive and its many names inspired this poem: blue daisy, blue dandelion, blue sailors, blue weed, bunk, coffeeweed, common chicory, cornflower, hendibeh, horseweed, ragged sailors, succory, wild bachelor’s buttons, wild endive, witloof
32 thoughts on “Blue Wildflower”
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Friendly Fairy Tales 
Weeds or salad! Very interesting! I love the hint of blue in these! 😀 Your flowers are beautiful!
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I love learning more about nature as I go. 🙂 My son and I collected leaves today, and it was fun to identify trees. So many, I don’t know.
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Isn’t it amazing to do that? I loved doing that leaf project! It gets challenging to see what you can find!
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So many species of trees right around our own house! 🙂
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What a lovely tribute to a flower! Kind of seems mean to add it to salad – it looks so pretty! 🙂
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I don’t think I’ve ever eaten it. 🙂
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Had to look close to see the blue stamen. The petals look like little prayer flags.
As always your light tripping into the fae world is a joy… even when I am up early
now before the sun waiting for my own ‘grandy’ to arrive.
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Jules, I’m so happy you stopped by. You are so lucky to be able to spend time with a grand. I hope to do that one day. And you’re right, the petals do look like prayer flags. 🙂
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Beautiful. This little flower has endeared itself to so many over such a long time that I am sure it will be around for your grandchildren. It will make sure of it. 🙂
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I expect my great grandparents knew it well. Perhaps even harvested the greens in the spring. 🙂
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I would think so.
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awww gorgeousness filtered through words lit by the sun!
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Your comment is poetry, thank you! Warmly, Brenda
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Reblogged this on 21 Shades of Blue and commented:
Lovely poem. I’m partial to blue and wildflowers.
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Perfectly lovely. Hugs!
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Thanks! Hugs to you. Brenda
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Oh my! I remember this tough little flower, not wanting to give up and be part of a bouquet… When I was younger, I could not understand that this was a ‘weed,’ Brenda! This is so pretty, you gave it justice in your choice of international names and your trembling blue petals is my favorite part! Hugs, Robin
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The roots were quite ‘ungiving,’ is what I meant when I said it would not ‘give up!’ smiles!
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It’s roots go deeper than dandelions, but it’s similar — one thick central root, very deep. Which can be roasted and added to coffee. Bizarre. LOL I read it will spring up anywhere the grass is not mowed. I bet it’s impossible to completely eradicate. Like ants. 🙂
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It is a tough flower, a true earth native. I’m sure it will outlive humans.
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i had no idea, like someone given many nicknames my so many relatives and friends who love them )
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I think it has so many names because it has been cultivated for thousands of years and has spread over the whole world. It’s fascinating. I was amazed when I looked it up. The Belgians have created Belgian endive out of it by forcing the leaves to grow with no light. I had no idea. I just thought it was Chicory, a weed. LOL
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LOVE these! Around here, they bloom in the morning and then close up in the afternoon, when the heat’s more intense. Thanks for sharing your photo and, as always, your lovely words. 🙂
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Yes, I read that about them. They open in the morning, at such a regular hour they were part of a clock. Then they close when the sun is at its full strength. There’s a folk tale about that, actually. 🙂
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Nice article. Who knew these simple little flowers had so many names? 🙂
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I sure didn’t. I love looking things up and learning something new. 🙂
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Boodle
Sent from my Apple gizmo.
>
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Boodle?
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Beautiful. Darn auto correct.
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LOL That’s a good one!
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All together, a beautiful piece of creation and picture. I enjouyed reading.
Be Bettr, Stay Bettr 🙂
Swetank.
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Hi Swetank, thank you kindly. I hope you have a magical day, my friend. Warmly, Brenda
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