[The Mitchella is a very delicate flower, a native of our
woods, and although originally named from another botanist
called Mitchell, was always a great favourite of Dr. S. L. Mitchell.
The "double nature" alluded to in the poem refers to the fact of the
flowers uniformly growing in pairs.]
Sequestered safe beneath the sylvan bow'rs,
Lo! fair Mitchella spends her joyous hours.
The double nature on her form bestow'd
Displays a winning and peculiar mode.
With lilac wreath her beauteous front is grac'd,
A crimson zone surrounds her slender waist;
A robe of green trails sweeping o'er the ground,
And scents ambrosial fill the air around--
Thus Proserpine o'er Enna's precincts stray'd
Till gloomy Dis surpris'd the unthinking maid.
From Earth to Tartarus transferr'd, in vain
She intercedes her native home to gain.
Jove grants in part her pray'r: above to know
One half the year, the rest to pass below:
And Ceres sees her daughter's two-fold mien,
On Earth a nymph, in Pluto's realms a queen.