Dandelion Dreams

Dandelion Dreams

By Laura Brady DePace

I am a Dandelion.

I stand tall,

Brilliant yellow,

Like a tiny sun

Anchored to the Earth.

I am not a weed!

I am a beautiful flower!

So much depends upon me.

I feed the bees when they awaken

Hungry

In the Spring.

I nurture many small creatures:

Honey bees

Bumblebees

Ants

Tiny crawling bugs.

And the spiders that feast on them

In their turn.

I stretch my flower high

On my slender stem.

I reach my roots deep

Into the warm Earth.

I spread my leaves wide

Upon the cool grass.

Time passes

And my yellow petals

Curl inward,

Hugging themselves,

Tightly closed.

Cradling the seeds growing

Within.

Time passes.

Finally, I stretch again,

Changing from yellow

To white

To a beautiful, perfect ball

Of crystalline seed-carrying parasols.

Dandelion fluff

Shining in the sun.

Tiny parachutes

Lift my seeds high

To rise in the air

And travel on the wind

Floating

To distant landings,

Far-off places,

Where new dandelions

Can begin

Can grow tall.

Yellow suns

Anchored to the Earth.

And some -

The lucky ones -

Will become “Wish Flowers”

In the hands

Of a child.

Launched by a child’s hopeful breath,

The heart of their innocent belief,

Carrying their wishes

And hopes

And dreams.

Into the heavens.

I am a Dandelion.