There are several passages piled up for today’s little verbal oblation, but I’ll go with some more lyrics that have a thistle reference. These lines are from the song “Lantern” by Josh Ritter. All of his lyrics achieve an impressively subtle and lovely poetry.
Where the thistles eat the thorns
And the roses have no chance
And ain’t no wonder that the babies
Come out crying in advance
And the children look for shelter
In the hollow of some lonesome cheek
Copious Flowers 