Dandelion Clocks

By london_calling79

Thu, 14 May 2015
  • 1609 reads
6 comments
 

Pressed thumb smudges of petal,

yellowed fringes supply

shade to your

root and stem

 

surrounded by green hemmed

swords of grass

soldiers keeping the creeping

moss at bay

 

while they still can

and you allow

until, in time you

relent, for now

 

a ticking hand to

 

face the sun,

to dry your flower head,

enliven the rapid

decline of leaf

 

to powderpuff

seed, child-breath

and the pendulum of the wind

ravage your face, you

 

settle in some recent

print left soft heavy

in cloying clay; become

pressed paw smudge bouquet

 

you live again.

Certificate U
Poem
New Set
Nature

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I like the 2nd stanza very much - the swords/grass soldiers that cover the grounds so effectively. It reminds me of our lawn where moss and dandelions compete, and grass is rather rare! and also the last 2.
Not sure of 'the darkness of root and stem' or 'you face the sun, a dappled feed, to enliven the rapid decline of leaf'.
Rhiannon

 

Submitted by london_calling79 on

Thanks Rhiannon. I was trying to get at the contrasts in the plant and that it needs the sun to, in effect, die and create new life but if I'm not getting it across I will go back over those lines. Thanks for the feedback!

 

Submitted by Ed Crane on

Lovely poem about these under-estimated plants. Yes some  (including myself) consider them a nuisance, but they are very beautiful. The leaves are tasty in salads (like chicory/endive) but the best thing is the the whole plant has enormous health benifits, particularly for liver problems.

I think you an excellent choice to write about Dandelions. I like the reference to clocks, I remember when I was a kid blowing on them . . . What's the time Mr. Wolf?

Best Wishes Alex

Keith.

 

Submitted by london_calling79 on

Had no idea they could be used in salads. I seem to remember something about dandelion tea and that great drink - dandelion and burdock. The tastes bring me right back to my childhood. Thanks for your comment and for your support!

 

Submitted by EB on

Delicately written.

Submitted by london_calling79 on

Cheers EB! Needs a bit of work still so I'll attack it tomorrow...