Dandelion leaves like lions’ teeth
turn up everywhere
with yellow faces like champions in their midst
serving spring nectar to hungry pollinators.
They show up early and stay late,
then depart sending fluffy parachutes
off in the wind to new venues.
Not idle guests
their taproots pull up nutrients
that fertilize grass.
When consumed they ease muscle aches,
joint pain, digestive distress, and more.
Their roots loosen hard soil,
aerate the earth, reduce erosion.
They handle their own planting.
Their every cell is edible.
And they’re sturdy as a girder.
These lion’s teeth
with their unsung offerings
come from seeds we never see.
They reach.
They grow.
They work for free
though so many perish
in a hateful reign of annihilation
with hoe and trowel.
First published by The Fictional Café August 18, 2019
Photo by Karly Jones on Unsplash