Dandelions (with apologies to William)

Source: the author

As I drive down Winnipeg streets
Wellington Crescent to Assiniboine Park
in every lawn, on every boulevard
grow hosts of golden dandelions.

Beside the duck pond, in parking lots,
beyond what eye can see or leg can walk,
their faces shine, harbingers of summer ease,
boon to bugs and butterflies and bees.

“I gazed —and gazed— but little thought”
that humble plant could nourish ought
with tasty leaves for salads fine,
provide even wherewithal for wine.

“Ten thousand saw I at a glance”
beside the road and margin of the river
before grass is green and trees bloom,
hope of approaching season, summer.

As I wander in constant cool of spring
and ponder pensively with vacant mind,
the vibrant yellow near hurts my eyes
mocking the daily wanderer of the sky.

And sometimes when in my bed I lie
enduring quietly some dreary drab environs,
or as I maunder through a grey part of year
my heart is cheered by thoughts of dandelions.

Frank Obrigewitsch, SJ, is pastor of St. Ignatius parish in Winnipeg.

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11 Comments
  • Peter Bisson
    Posted at 06:02h, 27 July Reply

    Thank you Frank!

  • Gerry Forest
    Posted at 07:18h, 27 July Reply

    Frank well done and well written. Makes one ponder about life and daily living.

  • Katherine Arbuthnott
    Posted at 10:10h, 27 July Reply

    Thanks for this, Frank. I always find the sight of dandelions in the spring lifts my spirits mightily. And they continue to decorate lawns and verges so joyfully throughout the summer. Two weeks ago, my 8-year-old grandson, Avery, decided to taste all the leaves he could find in the playground we were in, and decided that dandelions were the best.
    Katherine A

    • Roy Frank Obrigewitsch
      Posted at 18:25h, 27 July Reply

      Avery has good taste!

  • Ted Steven
    Posted at 10:49h, 27 July Reply

    Very Clever. Thank you.

  • Johnston Smith
    Posted at 18:06h, 27 July Reply

    Wonderful! Dancing with the dandelions!

  • John Burchat
    Posted at 23:38h, 27 July Reply

    @ B€@uTiFuL
    BN 2 William & @LL Th£ s, s & s

    whomever & wherever he now is..

  • Fr William Bourke, sj
    Posted at 05:13h, 28 July Reply

    Sorry Frank – dandelions were the bane of my spring days in Canada – hay fever! oh hay fever! sneezing and wet handkerchiefs! Bill Bourke, sj

    • Roy Frank Obrigewitsch
      Posted at 19:30h, 29 July Reply

      I sympathize!
      Ragweed, goldenrod, grass, trees are just some of my allergies.

  • Lorella D'Cruz
    Posted at 05:59h, 28 July Reply

    Very cleverly written, I agree. The forecast for Melbourne tomorrow is 15 degrees C – not bad for an antipodean winter’s day, is it?

  • Max Oliva
    Posted at 13:41h, 28 July Reply

    God bless you, Fr Frank.
    Max

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