Now I feel the need to "take a leek".

A couple of characters in The Books of Gargantua and Pantagruel by Francois Rabelais are arguing and insulting each other about their ages.  The elder retorts, "Thou twittest me with my gray hairs, yet considerest not how I am of the nature of leeks, which with a white head carry a green, fresh, straight, and vigorous tail."

(My tail is wonderful, thanks for asking!)