“i wandered carefree as a weed” (a lyric in honor of my lawn--as well as Wordsworth’s I wandered lonely as a Cloud) I wandered carefree as a weed that floats through clouds and skies of blue, unlike the golden daffodils landlocked in groups of ten and two, narcissus bent faces downcast despite the sunny bright forecast. the daffodils herald spring days, the dandelions announce them too, but one lasts weeks, then petals shed must twelve months wait until renewed, while hardy yellow lion’s teeth dot greenery, rebirth, unsheathe after a short time within their green leaves folded over blades the hue of sun transmutate to angel wings of snowy grace while daffodil’s corpse litters ground the lowly weeds’ freedom is found the cultivated daffodil lives lonely, keeping company with others of its kind plus one red tulip flushing prettily. vanity did isolate it, its love is unreciprocated. meanwhile the humble sunlit weed keeps face upturned to heaven’s vault: the azure skies, the cotton clouds, even the thunderstorm’s assault of mowing blade now sharp and cruel that can’t defeat this disdained jewel Often I lie upon my bed and wonder that resilient bloom, its color bright, its upturned head, survives despite the farmers’ doom. Daffodils may dance sublime, but me? I love the dandelion. #
This poem is posted in honor of the 30th Annual Dandelion May Fest, which takes place this weekend. If you’d like to read about my progress and plans for this year, you can subscribe to my Patreon and support my work for just $1 a month! Until next time, stay safe and well, and read often!
Cat Russell 