Dandelion

Standard

Go on,

get it over with.

I dare you to kick me over,

I will turn the other cheek.

Just try to mow me down

you won’t get my roots out.

Oh, what’s that?

You brought the herbicide today,

oh, green-thumbed one?

I hope you don’t miss

a single one of us

once.

Even if you can manage

to banish all of us,

our cousins will pop back over

from the neighbor’s yard.

No matter what happens,

we have the utmost faith

that we’ll be back.

In the face of degradation,

we live on

by way of what we scatter,

by what we leave behind.

May our hope,

sail on warm zephyrs

and forever outrun

your worst machinations.


Terrarium

Standard

You’ll be safe in here,

that’s my promise to you.

This is not a cage,

It’s your space; your stage,

your opportunity to show everyone

who you are.

So well constructed,

that you could never be replicated

in the tumult of nature.

So inculcated we are,

to believe the inherent worth

of the spontaneous.

Be still,

I will water your succulents

sparingly,

to keep them from drowning.

I will make changes

as the days go by,

you can trust me

with the maintenance.

You’ll stay by the windowsill

so you too can see the light.

The world outside this jar

is cold; it’s unforgiving

its unpredictable.

You needn’t worry

about the chaos outside,

I have given you peace,

protection,

stability —

in return just be yourself for me,

we’ll call it even.

Hello, Sunshine!

Standard

I sigh,

From where I lie,

Chin held high,

While my eyes imbibe,

The flowing sky,

And all is right.

It’s an unusually bright,

Afternoon,

Already.

Leaves of grass,

Are weaved,

Underneath,

My back-

My hair and clothing,

Have dandelion seeds,

Clinging to them.

“The garden returns,

The flowers bloom, the weeds rise,

All from the sun’s rays.”

I sit up,

And feel the light,

Caress my face,

Hit my hair,

Warm my shoulders.

“Hello, Sunshine!

I’m glad you’ve stopped by,

Thanks for everything.”