The Dandelion by Wilis Boyd Allen

A DANDELION in a meadow grew,
Among the waving grass and cowslips yellow
Dining on sunshine, breakfasting on dew;
He was a most contented little fellow.
Each morn his head he lifted straight,
To catch the first sweet breath of coming day.
At even closed his sleepy eyes to wait
Until the long cool night had passed away.
One afternoon in sad, unquiet mood,
I paused beside this tiny bright-faced flower,
And begged that he would tell me, if he could,
The secret of his joy thro' sun and shower.
He looked at me with open eyes and said:
"I know the sun is somewhere shining clear,
And when I cannot see him overhead,
I try to be a little sun right here."


Wilis Boyd Allen

"Dandelion" by Evaleen Stein

Hey-a-day-a-day, my dear! Dandelion time!
Come, and let us make for them a pretty little rhyme!
See the meadows twinkling now, beautiful and bright
As the sky when through the blue, shine the stars at night!
Once upon a time, folks say, mighty kings of old
Met upon a splendid field called “The Cloth of Gold.”
But, we wonder, could it be there was ever seen
Brighter gold than glitters now in our meadows green?
Dandelions, dandelions, shining through the dew,
Let the kings have Cloth of Gold, but let us have you!

by Evaleen Stein (1863-1923)