moss to be more, 6
chicory Decide to be
convolvulus Decide to move
digitalis Act without
hemlock Endure the suspense
mandrake As large as
marigold Latitude
iris Hold the invoice
mezereon Lose the consignment
parsley Prefer to risk
myrrh The next season
myrtle The next shipment
citron Safe to comply with
cyclamen Safe to repeat
crocus Decide not to redraw
marjoram Law
moss To be more
concluding a selection and reordering of phrases whose codewords are flower and plant names, from W. S. Wetmore, compiler, General Commercial Telegraphic Code (Shanghai 1875), here
something on W. S. Wetmore (1827-98?) and his code(s).
—
the flower names are from Kate Greenaway (1846-1901), her Language of Flowers, Printed in colours by Edward Evans (London, no date but ca 1900), NYPL copy —
omitting all flower names not encountered in the code, and adding a couple not listed in Greenaway, too
only 71 of the 175 botanical code words found in Wetmore, were used; the rest are weeds.
written (and best read?) aloud, with fluid/improvisational enjambment.
tags:
convolvulus; flora; flowers; marigold; moss; weeds; telegraphic codes
W. S. Wetmore; Kate Greenaway