Flowering Dogwoods 

Remind me of a little song I once heard before I knew what a dogwood flowers looked like

I think it goes something like this

Legend of The Dogwood Tree

When Christ was on earth, the dogwood grew
To a towering size with lovely hue.
Its branches were strong and interwoven
And for Christ's cross its timbers were chosen.

Being distressed at the use of this wood,
Christ made a promise which still holds good:

"Not ever again shall the dogwood grow
To be large enough for such a tree, and so
Slender and twisted it shall always be
With cross-shaped blossoms for all to see.

The petals shall have bloodstains marked in brown
And in the blossom's center a thorny crown

All who see it will think of Me,
Nailed to a cross from the dogwood tree.
Protected and cherished this tree shall be
A reflection to all of my agony.