Germander Speedwell
Veronical chamaedrys

‘Doll’s Eye’ , it is in Welsh
because of the bright blue
of its petals - some pigment used
in coloured glass I supposed, though
surely not so long ago.   But wait,
it’s also called ‘Blue Eye’, Bird’s Eye’,
‘Cat’s Eye’, ‘Bull’s Eye’ and ‘‘Angel’s Eye’.

The shape, then, of the petals
as much as the colour, the common theme
its eye-like opening into flower
low to the ground, winking at the world,
so called chamaedrys - ‘low-growing oak’ -
to speed you sturdily on your way
with a bright blue glint in its pupil.


FLORA