Dandelion Poem

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My dad and I have an ongoing, but loving, dispute about the value of dandelions. My parents live in a retirement community where a single dandelion is a blite upon the neighbourhood. I haven’t sprayed my lawn in years and have a busy family life that leaves the lawn somewhat neglected. When my parents visit in the spring, my dad remarks on how many dandelions are on our lawn. I, in turn, encourage my kids to pick bouquets of dandelions for him, serve him dandelion tea, chop dandelion leaves into salad, offer dandelion jam, and exclaim over the many environmental benefits of dandelions.

My husband and I have long had a joke that spite (not love) is the most powerful emotion in the world. It can make you work harder in school just to beat the smart kid, or get in really good shape after a break up. Well, this poem is the result of love and spite coming together. It is a sonnet that I wrote for my dad for Father’s Day… comparing him to a dandelion.

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Shall I compare thee to a dandelion?

Though you are more enduring, deeper rooted.

Some may try to cut you, send you flyin’,

Your golden head doth come back up undisputed.

In age your gold turns white with seeds spread farther.

And on the wind, they fly to other places.

From you, they have a piece of what they are there,

As to the sun they turn their pretty faces.

But though you bring much joy to many grand-youths,

You’ll not be picked and simply thrown aside.

Nor kept around just when you have a good use.

The sight of you on my lawn gives me pride.

So long as I have breath and some brain power,

I’ll love thee, as my father, my spring flower.

Happy Father’s Day

© Jacquify 2021

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