Daffodils are associated with Saint David's Day in Wales and are my favorite spring flower. I always think of Wordsworth's poem when I see them. In fact, it's one of the few poems that I ever memorized. Wordsworth was from the Lake District of England and, like other Romantic poets of his era, is known to have visited Ireland for retreat and renewal.

Daffodils

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

See the full poem here.

 I also vividly remember being asked one of those “creative interview questions” for my first job:

 If you were a flower, what flower would you be?

I especially remember being floored for a moment and then just instinctively saying “daffodil”.  I said it because it was the only flower I could think of at that moment. But then when I was asked why I chose them I surprised myself with a sound reason and I had a lot to say.

I said, “I liked that daffodils are singular, strong, vibrant and yet flexible. They bend with the wind. They are surrounded by support, part of a bunch but with their own identity.” I added that usually these bunches were part of a large patch of bright yellow like a community of daffodils and that I have really fond memories as a child of them growing wild along the roadside. Not as poetic as Wordsworth, but I think the answer landed me the job.

As spring approaches, just for fun, I invite you to think about your favorite spring flower and ask yourself “In what way does it describe who you are?”

 I would love to hear your answers and, if you like, I will publish your response.