Check'd red with white

By this boy that at her side lay kill'd
was melted like a vapour from her sight.
And in his blood that on the ground lay spill'd
A purple flow'r sprung up, check'd red with white
Resembling well his pale cheeks and his blood
Which in round drops upon their whiteness stood.
She bows her head, the new sprung flow'r to smell,
Comparing it to her Adonis breath.


You of course know the poem Venus and Adonis by Mr Shakespeare don't you! A quick refresher - it tells of Venus' attempted seduction of the beautiful Adonis who quite frankly preferred hunting. After several attempts at seduction and being continually thwarted, even tackling him to the ground and rushing around naked, Venus warns him not to go on a hunt for she fears he will be killed. He of course ignores her and goes off, where his beauty stuns his quarry, a boar, who accidentally gores him as he goes to kiss him!  Venus come upon the scene and is heartbroken. As Adonis lies dying flowers spring up where his blood spills on the ground! They are most likely fritillaries! 

 No mention of  snakes  but the flower is also known as chess flower, frog-cup, guinea-hen flower, guinea flower, leper lily (because its shape resembled the bell once carried by lepers), Lazarus bell, chequered lily, chequered daffodil and  drooping tulip. So incredibly educational!



Oh boy, the house is clean!!!  And I've also been hurting around West Cork sorting out card orders. Holiday preparations are exhausting!