Dandelion Darling Poem by Richlan Dyar

Knees to chest he held, a kernel bare inside the earth
Dark he sensed and damp he felt and life pulsed strong within.
Gingerly his hands reached to the sun and towards his birth;
Roots unfurled into the soil. His limbs were paper thin.

Laurel green was his fair crown as first it bathed in sun;
His slender back stretched out and arms arose with dainty charm.
Adagio and arms ouvert, his long locks came undone-
By his vermilion petals, ev'n the breeze he could disarm.

The rose was born with thorns, but to their use he had no thought.
To arabesque and exude life was all that he desired.
Through storms and bugs and cold, no gloom in him was wrought,
To dance with brethren flora- no more had he required.

By and lo, another verdant head from soil arose.
This tiny soul peeked shyly from her shadowed hiding place.
As sunbeams shone, her downy yellow curls she did expose;
Amidst these tall red roses, the maiden looked misplaced.

Vermilion Rose was wonderstruck by this gold-flaxen fae.
Bowing to admire her curls, Rose asked her for a name.
'Dandelion, ' murmured she in shy melodic way,
'But I know not why I am here, nor from whence I came.'

'I know not why you're here, but I'll protect and guide you, '
Claimed the tall Vermilion, 'and then perhaps- perchance, '
Bowing so politely as the roses tend to do,
'My darling Dandelion, Might I request a dance? '

Dandelion darling bobbed her silky yellow head.
The two swayed back and forth in tandem, making very merry.
Bashful Dandelion danced as Rose gracefully lead.
Their music was the song of joyful wagtail and canary.

Rose, as promised, guarded careful little Dandelion;
Shielded her from withering heat, shared his food and drink-
Showed her Little Dipper and the belt of great Orion,
Thoughts of life without her…Rose did not care to think.

The roses were quite tall, and so they needed quite some room-
Soon little Dandelion was all scrunched up and entangled.
She hadn't room enough to grow- this certainly spelled doom.
If she could not spread her roots, she surely would be strangled.

Vermilion drew his own roots out aside to make a space.
'But Rose, you need your room to grow, ' small Dandelion cried.
'As long as I'm beside you, I will always have a place.
'This much space is space enough and I'll be fine, ' Rose lied.

Dandelion flourished there as Rose shared all he had.
Rose held his scarlet head up high and tried to hide his wilt.
He knew he wouldn't last much longer, but he was not sad.
He could not bear with Dandelion feeling any guilt.

Yellow curls once dense and short now unfurled full and fair.
Crimson locks that had been luscious now were dried and dying.
Dandelion loved her Rose and still was not aware-
That everything the maiden had, Rose had been supplying.

Vermilion Rose had done his best to yet revel and dance.
But now he was too stiff and weak to even take a bow.
Suddenly his Dandelion broke the happy trance-
Saw how the caring, precious, selfless Rose had kept his vow.

The devastated golden maiden's soul was wrenched with grief.
She was prospering still while her beloved quickly faded.
'I'm loathsome! ' wept the Dandelion, 'I have been a thief! '
'No, Dandelion darling, ' the ebbing Rose dissuaded.

'I gave myself because I knew I couldn't live without you.
'It may have been a selfish choice, but dear, I pray, live on.
'Take my sacrifice and wrap your flaxen beauty about you.
'Please keep your tender heart and dance after I am gone.'

'Vermilion Rose my precious love, I'll love you still forever.'
Dandelion sobbed and sobbed, within herself a-quarreling.
'Don't cry, my dear, ' Rose whispered then, ' I'll truly leave you never.
I love you now and always will, my Dandelion Darling.'