Like pioneer Acadians
Not knowing where to go,
The iris drifted southward
A long, long time ago.
Pushed onward by the glaciers
And helped along by floods
It reached the land of bayous
And Mississippi muds.
And there amidst the swamplands
And moss-draped live-oak trees,
It settled, paying rent to
The busy bumblebees.
In spring each year thereafter,
Despite Gulf storm or tide,
Its myriad colors covered
The peaceful countryside.
It greeted the Acadians
When to this land they came,
In royal robes of purple,
Of gold, pink, blue and flame.
For years they lived together--
Watched foreign flags unfurled;
Their customs quaint they cherished
Apart from all the world.
But now they're in the limelight,
Their faces all aglow;
To eager eyes awaiting
Their treasures they must show.
And South Louisiana
With pride throws wide its door
To views of rainbow colors
And curious ways of yore.
Comments by Marie Caillet: Pearl Mary Segura, a retired librarian from the University of Southwestern Louisiana, is a native of Lafayette, LA, and a descendant of the early Acadians that settled the area. She has been a member of the Society for Louisiana Irises since it was started in the early 1940's. This poem was first published in the magazine Home Gardening for the South, in May of 1945. Since few if any of you have been members for 40 years, I thought you might enjoy reading this or using it when you give a talk or slide show on Louisiana irises.