FAWM 2026 / Song 10 Instrument: tenor banjo ukulele tuned high GCEA

#poisonerchallenge prompt plant from @leslie: Honeybush (Melianthus major) – evergreen plant originating in S Africa having red flowers with black nectar (so rare in nature!), which contrast appeals the blooms all the more to birds, but grazing animals will die within 3 days of eating large doses. Its nectar “ink” stains clothing, and while the leaves stink (some say like peanut butter) the flowers smell sweet

But there’s a non-poisonous “honeybush” plant in South Africa, too. I know because I drink it in a tea. So I looked that up and wrote this song — which one am I? Maybe both!!

I tried to come up with melody before chords here, then tweaked it into place.

See all my originals here: https://tinyurl.com/seligsongs

#ukulele #singersongwriter #personwithukulele #girlwithukulele #acousticonetake #fuc #uke #acoustic

Oh, evergreen lament, African hills All red with honeybush, its ink a-spill

How blooms drip like they’re mouths with words Appealing all the more to birds

So rare! To die but once, in three days In three days, oh In three days, to die

And yet I rise again, I thought I told you when Melianthus or cyclopia? All the bees and their myopia

I only thought I was major… Caught in phial or trap or cage or

He thinks his leaves don’t stink, I’ve dressed myself in red and ink

For poison does what poison ought They call to me but “touch me not.”

touch me not touch me not touch me not touch me not