Ode To Banksia Floribunda

What is this flower perched like bird on stem With tiny feathery florets in pews Aligned along rows on cylinder heads? Tis Banksia, native of Australia. Named after botanist Sir Joseph Banks, Who sailed on "Endeavour" with Captain Cook To unearth Australia, the Great South Land With shores bedecked with Banksia flowers. Not a rose with its gaudy petal flush Nor a daffodil or iris pendants Nor ring of daisy petals stuck to sun But hundreds of small flowers pinned on heads Plethora of colors, earthy and rare Red, yellow, brown, cream, white and orange hues The colors of dawn and dusk and the moon The colors of soil in the dry parched land. Flower candles on candelabra bush Arise like flames from sharp serrated leaves Lighting the Australian bush with color A pleasure, joy, delight to see in bloom Enjoy Banksia flowers in gardens As picked in vase they look so out of place. Better still, see them in their native scrub Outback of Dwellingup and way beyond.