Week LIV

Our flowers this week took elegance to the next level. Every single part contributed to a particular facet of its finesse. One of the aspects that I really liked about the bouquet was the contrast between the bold colour of the lilac and the soft hues of the other plants. The spherical shape of the echinops had a similar effect when compared to the rest of the arrangement. Overall, it was extremely delightful to simply spend some time contemplating the nature of its aesthetics.
  By the end of the week, however, most of the plants had withered so much that the bouquet had a completely different appearance. Which inevitably made me think of the brevity of life, and reminded me of a sublime poem by Luis de Góngora that tells about that. I would like to share it with you all.

Mientras por competir por tu cabello

oro bruñido al sol relumbra en vano,

mientras con menosprecio en medio el llano

mira tu blanca frente al lilio bello;

 

Mientras a cada labio por collego,

siguen más ojos que al clavel temprano,

y mientras triunfa con desdén lozano

del luciente cristal tu gentil cuello,

 

Goza cuello, cabello, labio y frente,

antes que lo que fue en tu edad dorada

oro, lilio, clavel, cristal luciente,

 

No solo en plata o vïola troncada

se vuelva, más tú y ello juntamente

en tierra, en humo, en polvo, en sombra, en nada.