The other day as I was driving, I noticed some black eyed Susans growing out of the concrete in the middle of the road.

I wish I had a picture of them so bright out of that drab concrete, the contrast was lovely.

It reminded me that I'd once read a story about how black eyed Susans came to be. I can't recall where I found the story or much about it. There were two girls and somehow one of them, perhaps both were turned into black eyed Susans.

Does anyone know it or the source? I'd love to find it again.

Thanks

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Lisa Hicks, The Stellar Storyteller

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This one story I know about Sunflowers. You can listen to the story on
http://www.ksvy.org/shows-AudioArchive/StoryLovers_World-Archive.htm
episode 3.

Clytie
The ancient Greek myth about the water nymph Clytie and her all-consuming, romantic passion for the indifferent sun god Apollo who brings about a tragic transformation to the helpless girl.

Thanks! I'll listen to it as soon as I get the time!

Stellar

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Lisa Hicks, The Stellar Storyteller

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I did a quick online look, but only came up with references to a legend about black-eyed susan and sweet william.

I found another story that's pretty neat in that it incorporates a lot of flower names in it. This one would be fun to learn for a garden club telling:

http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/flowers/pcd11.html

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Thanks so much Granny Sue! I'm going to go read it now.

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I'll take a stab at the BESS (black eyed susan story) but there are many.

Wildflower folklore website http://www.wildflowerinformation.org/WildflowerFolklore.asp
*****
John Gay (1685-1732)

Sweet William's Farewell to Black-Eyed Susan

A Ballad

All in the Downs the fleet was moored,
The streamers waving in the wind,
When black-eyed Susan came aboard.
"Oh! where shall I my true love find?
Tell me, ye jovial sailors, tell me true,
If my sweet William sails among the crew."

William, who, high upon the yard,
Rocked with the billow to and fro,
Soon as her well-known voice he heard,
He sighed and cast his eyes below:
The cord slides swiftly through his glowing hands,
And (quick as lightning) on the deck he stands.

So the sweet lark, high-poised in air,
Shuts close his pinions to his breast
(If, chance, his mate's shrill call he hear)
And drops at once into her nest.
The noblest captain in the British fleet
Might envy William's lip those kisses sweet.

"O Susan, Susan, lovely dear,
My vows shall ever true remain;
Let me kiss off that falling tear,
We only part to meet again.
Change, as ye list, ye winds; my heart shall be
The faithful compass that still points to thee.

Believe not what the landmen say,
Who tempt with doubts thy constant mind:
They'll tell thee, sailors, when away,
In ev'ry port a mistress find.
Yes, yes, believe them when they tell thee so,
For thou art present wheresoe'er I go.

If to far India's coast we sail,
Thy eyes are seen in di'monds bright,
Thy breath is Africk's spicy gale,
Thy skin is ivory, so white.
Thus ev'ry beauteous object that I view
Wakes in my soul some charm of lovely Sue.

Though battle call me from thy arms,
Let not my pretty Susan mourn;
Though cannons roar, yet safe from harms
William shall to his dear return.
Love turns aside the balls that round me fly,
Lest precious tears should drop from Susan's eye."

The boatswain gave the dreadful word,
The sails their swelling bosom spread,
No longer must she stay aboard:
They kissed, she sighed, he hung his head.
Her less'ning boat unwilling rows to land:
"Adieu!" she cries; and waves her lily hand.







Black Eyed Susan - by Jenifer Armstrong - story about a pioneer girl

Tita Bakas wrote a book called Black Eyed Susan. She is listed on her website as a teller in NC. http://www.webthrower.com/titabio.htm



A poem called Black Eyed Susan at http://allpoetry.com/poem/326005

I also remember a native american story about black eyed susans.

If none of these hit the mark, do you remember anything about your story?
Do you remember what tradition your black eyed susan story came from?

Rivka
SimplyExtraordinaryTales.com

Thanks Rivka!

These are all wonderful. They aren't what I was thinking of but I like them.

All I remember about the story is that it may have been in a gardening book I was reading at the time. Somehow a girl is turned into a black eyed susan. I remember thinking it was a great story at the time. I wasn't a storyteller professionally then so I didn't write out a story skeleton for it like I tend to do now.

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You might want to go into the gardening section of you library or book store and page through some books. You might recognize your old book or if it was based on a traditional story it might be in different books.

Rivka

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