Violets, blue violets especially, have for centuries been known as a symbol of mourning for the "ai, ai" in saying so...according to Main's text notes.
(sonnet #dunno)
Blue violets in profusion, white's detail
Half drowning such out whilst just blue is dense
Across the street, oh! I half swoon from hence.
If only I could stop and linger, hail
The lost joys of years past, and lose me, frail
As aught, right here amidst blue violets. Fence
My way for just a moment, and's defense,
Flown with the passage, though how they'd avail.
And's April Fool's again, but I'm as twere
Quite short of pranks to play, whence they'll undo
Me in a trice. Erst wont to play in tour
With candies and old tins, I'm fooled as due:
I swear tis Thursday, cuz I worked in poor
'Scuse third shift last night. LORD, save me, won't You?
01Apr26a