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Let
Flowers Speak
by Alison Elizabeth nee McLachlan-Crowe Hallak
In Memory of
Ian Harold McLachlan-Crowe
Born 29 June 1942 @ Hurstville NSW
Died 5 January 2004 @ Lake Cargellico NSW
"Where's the key, Mum? Is it in
the violets?" questioned tiny trusting face.
Little boy noticed that ... within violet patch … was safest hiding place.
Even at years of five, he chose gently to ... "say it with flowers".
Through many years thus he would say, be it warming sun or cooling
showers.
Whatever occasion, he thought "saying it with flowers" was the very best
talk.
Be it wedding day, "get well" wishes soon, or sweethearts' first
courtship walk.
When his parents were buying fine
family home, this readily meant
Great cost at first Christmas there, gift giving was scant, one ...
loving present.
His sister & he woke on Xmas morn ... to find pink primula in bright
garden pot.
He learnt right then that to have one large expense, meant sacrificing
quite a lot.
The father, gardener of repute, To "say it with flowers" was also his way.
Lesson of "Primula in the Pot" understood, as young boy went outdoors to
play.
Down by the orchid house where his
father's prize orchids multiplying enhanced.
Gallant youth sang Elvis Presley's amorous lyrics. Sweetheart gracefully
danced.
Close by ... mulberry tree with juicy fruit to eat ... when season was
timely,
Gave delicious berries for these two to taste ... but not always
sublimely.
Native lillypilly tree ... another tree with purple berry ... was growing
close by.
It bade ... "Come eat." ... Some lookers ate ... this dainty delight of
the eye.
With wife & first son, lived &
worked in "The Land of the Long White Cloud".
Unavoidably missing sister's wedding celebration, far from maddening
crowd.
To show loving thoughts of her grand occasion, he sent on that sunshiny
day
Inter Flora 'cross Tasman, snowy white blooms on thoughtful word-laden
way.
Once again adhering to fond belief in worthwhile goodness of true
flower-giving,
Whispers within flora heard, "May happiness ever-after, be yours in the
living".
Forward thinking this young man,
with now two sons, buying family home,
Chose site where waratahs grew majestically high in mountain native bush
loam.
Gum trees & other Aussie flora crowded the valleys, dense, wild, lovely &
rare.
Bushland echoed agreement "to say it with flowers" reveals mankind does
care.
Nearer family home, he planted exotic garden like his father had done
before.
Azaleas guarded fenceline & gate. Ivy crept upstairs & peeped in his front
door.
One day in wise maturity gave
advice to young lad, at hour now in time faraway.
Asked best way to win teenage lass, upon whom lad's affection unable to
stray.
Delighted he was that young lad had come to him, on perplexing questioning
day.
Responded, "Why young fellow, you 'say it with flowers'. That's the best
way".
This heart-given advice was followed precisely by handsome eager young
swain.
Because flowers were his bright ambassador, he was welcomed again & again.
To bid farewell to his much loved
Dad, came sad time to ponder & sigh.
As he walked in his Dad's garden, where ghost gum trees stretch high to
the sky,
Plucked from his father's favourite tree, twig of long-bladed eucalyptus
gumtips.
The like once had played stirring martial tunes upon his father's musical
lips.
"Ghost gum" leaf spray was placed with wreath on his father's coffin with
love.
Bush aroma would journey with father's soul to The Heavenly Land up Above.
Increasing maturity, time when
older age finds weaknesses of each human frame,
Saw sister's turn with adversity. She went to hospital. Later the
specialist came.
Before departure for hospital at her door ... from friendly florist nearby
Arrived beautiful array of bush flowers, in wet tray, to keep moist from
the dry.
Brother's thoughts were conveyed by supporting strong stem for each bloom.
Essence was of best "get well" wishes, also be back soon to vanquish the
gloom.
Later in life again, he implored
flowers honestly, appropriate message to speak.
This time bouquet was for loved wife, suffering from cancer, sickly &
weak.
Beautiful flora once more snowy-white, symbolic of great admiration & true
love.
Other flower-speaking words, be brave & welcome peace in form of pure
dove.
Blooms with devoted bonding thoughts, memory-laden of radiant days ago
When wedded bliss enraptured, shone around both & radiantly they were
aglow.
So now we are reverently here. To
this good man we'll "say it with flowers".
It's start of year in our dry parched land. Desperate need is for showers.
To this man, lover of beauty, who heard magical words all flowers are
saying,
Is given own floral tribute with boundless love over-weighing.
Behold ...
gumleaves, bushbracken, purple
iris, white chrysanthemums, red bud-roses atop,
Native foliage with exotic blooms, his goodbye wreath makes magnificent
crop.
Floral tribute to him now with his own past flower gifts interweaving.
Listen, heed message to all, God's Creation believing, will lighten all
grieving.
written by -
Alison Elizabeth (McLachlan - Crowe) Hallak
17 January 2004
@ Tahmoor NSW Australia |
