The First Sunflower

Clytie was a sea nymph who would bear the greatest sorrow

For broken hearted she became when spurned by young Apollo

By day and night she sat bareheaded on the barren earth

A shadow of her former self bereft of all self worth.

She pined for nine days for her love who roamed across the sky

And fasting on the open ground she prayed that she might die

For daily in his chariot he would draw the sun due west

While she watched as he passed from sight and cursed her lonely quest.

The son of Zeus Apollo was both beautiful and mighty

So lesser gods took pity on the woeful sea nymph Clytie

They rooted her to mother earth so no more would she cower

But gaze forever skyward as the inborn first sunflower.