Marwolaeth / Death Flower

Death flower, dare not pluck a single stem, dare not bring into my house, dare not grow in my garden

Beware, the fine feathered things, the odour portending, death in the family

And I heard it: the shuffling of feet, the swarming of the bees, the thrum of starlings

And I saw it: the solitary crow, the burrow of the mole, from the dairy below

And I felt it, the shiver by the fire, the wrecking of the keel, the wind over their feet

Pale blue light, shining for me, rushes glimmering, in the darkness lead

And I’ll face him, when my time has come, he will take me in his arms, and dance me til I’m done

And I’ll leave here, on the hooting of an owl, with the coin in my mouth, growing a single flower

And remember, all you will of me, when you pass by my grave, to leave that flower be

written and performed by Esther Williams