"The Language of Flowers" is an unpublished song from a poem by the American geologist and poet

James Gates Percival James Gates Percival (September 15, 1795 – May 2, 1856) was an American poet, surgeon, and geologist, born in Berlin, Connecticut, and died in Hazel Green, Wisconsin. Biography James Gates Percival was a precocious child and a versatile, yet ...

, with music written by the English composer

Edward Elgar Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet, (; 2 June 1857 – 23 February 1934) was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestr ...

when he was only fourteen years old. It is dated 29 May 1872, inscribed "by Edward W. Elgar", with "words by Percival"McVeagh, p.3 "Elgar composed the song 'The Language of Lowers' (1872) when he was not quite fifteen. The verses are by the American poet and botanist, James Gates Percival." (at first thought to be Elgar himself) and dedicated "to my sister Lucy on her birthday."

Lyrics

THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS :In Eastern lands they talk in flow'rs ::And they tell in a

garland A garland is a decorative braid, knot or wreath of flowers, leaves, or other material. Garlands can be worn on the head or around the neck, hung on an inanimate object, or laid in a place of cultural or religious importance. In contemporary times ...

their loves and cares; :Each blossom that blooms in their garden bowr's, ::On its leaves a mystic language bears. :The

rose A rose is either a woody perennial plant, perennial flowering plant of the genus ''Rosa'' (), in the family Rosaceae (), or the flower it bears. There are over three hundred Rose species, species and Garden roses, tens of thousands of cultivar ...

is a sign of joy and love, ::Young blushing love in its earliest dawn, :And the mildness that suits the gentle dove, ::From the myrtle's snowy flow'rs is drawn. :Innocence gleams in the

lily ''Lilium'' ( ) is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants growing from bulbs, all with large and often prominent flowers. Lilies are a group of flowering plants which are important in culture and literature in much of the world. Most species are ...

's bell, ::Pure as the heart in its native heaven. :Fame's bright star and glory's swell ::By the glossy leaf of the

bay A bay is a recessed, coastal body of water that directly connects to a larger main body of water, such as an ocean, a lake, or another bay. A large bay is usually called a ''gulf'', ''sea'', ''sound'', or ''bight''. A ''cove'' is a small, ci ...

are given. :The silent, soft and humble heart, ::In the

violet Violet may refer to: Common meanings * Violet (color), a spectral color with wavelengths shorter than blue * One of a list of plants known as violet, particularly: ** ''Viola'' (plant), a genus of flowering plants Places United States * Vi ...

's hidden sweetness breathes, :And the tender soul that cannot part, ::In a twine of

evergreen In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has Leaf, foliage that remains green and functional throughout the year. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which lose their foliage completely during the winter or dry season. Consisting of many diffe ...

fondly wreathes. :The

cypress Cypress is a common name for various coniferous trees or shrubs from the ''Cupressus'' genus of the '' Cupressaceae'' family, typically found in temperate climates and subtropical regions of Asia, Europe, and North America. The word ''cypress'' ...

that daily shades the grave, ::Is sorrow that moans her bitter lot, :And faith that a thousand ills can brave, ::Speaks in thy blue leaves "

forget-me-not ''Myosotis'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the Ancient Greek "mouse's ear", which the foliage is thought to resemble. In the Northern Hemisphere, they are colloquially known as forget-me-no ...

". :Then gather a

wreath A wreath () is an assortment of flowers, leaves, fruits, twigs, or various materials that is constructed to form a ring shape. In English-speaking countries, wreaths are used typically as household ornaments, most commonly as an Advent and C ...

from the garden bowers, ::And tell the wish of thy heart in flowers.

Recordings

"The Unknown Elgar"
includes "The Language of Flowers" performed by

Teresa Cahill Teresa (also Theresa, Therese; ) is a feminine given name. It originates in the Iberian Peninsula in late antiquity. Its derivation is uncertain, it may be derived from Greek θερίζω (''therízō'') "to harvest or reap", or from θέ ...

(soprano), with Barry Collett (piano).

References

*Banfield, Stephen, ''Sensibility and English Song: Critical studies of the early 20th century'' (Cambridge University Press, 1985) *Kennedy, Michael, ''Portrait of Elgar'' (Oxford University Press, 1968) * *Young, Percy M., ''Elgar O.M.'' (Collins, 1955)

External links

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Language of Flowers, The Songs about flowers Songs by Edward Elgar Language of flowers 1872 songs