Unassuming Daffodil

About daffodils - contest entry

Unassuming Daffodil

Beautiful, white daffodils
Growing in the grassy field
Eager after winter’s chill
To pop out of their seed.

Petals that are white as snow
Centered by a red rimmed globe
That’s a pretty, pale yellow
A sight to see indeed.

Its fragrant oil widely used
Often in some fine perfumes
A Goddess once gathered its blooms
Her name, Persephone.

Also told of Narciccus
Hero turned by Nemesis
Into family Amaryllis
Because of his conceit.

Poet’s Daffodil pervades
Europe through the Great Crusades
Canada and the USA
Grow many different breeds.

Ways it’s known symbolically
Wealth, beauty, and vanity
And placed on graves respectfully
To honor the deceased.

Thousands of varieties
Most grown ornamentally
Orange, yellow or white ranging
All start from a black seed.

Also used in medicine
Though toxic if its eaten
Its extracted galantamine
Treats Alzheimer’s disease.

These admired daffodils
Earns appreciation still
For many ways it gives goodwill
Through poets, myths, and deeds.