In recognition of Poetry Month, and to celebrate our treasure trove of Orcas Island poets, Orcas Issues is pleased and honored to offer daily poetry during April.
IN PRAISE OF THE DANDELION
(Tooth of the Lion, Taraxacum)
— by Ingrid Karnikis —
A versatile plant,
leaves to eat,
roots to roast for “coffee”
flowers to delight the eye
and wine for the spirit.
Its strong roots plunge deep
and flourish in heavy turf.
Thick green leaves anchor
dazzling yellow blooms.
Beloved of the bumble bee,
sign of early spring
it scatters sunlight
to make carpets of gold.
At the end it offers
one more pleasure—
A feathery white head
to delight a child’s breath.
Beautiful and visual, Ingrid! Thank you! and Thanks, too, Orcas Issues, for gifting us with a daily poem in April!!
I had the pleasure of hearing this poem read by Ingrid herself. She has a way of bringing words to life in a gentle and loving way. Ingrid was born to create, and read poetry.
Lovely poem!
Thank you, Ingrid, for a second meeting with your words of praise for the dandelion. Such a skillful rendering of the life span of a plant so many folks condemn as a weed… from root to seed, your images beautifully unfurl before us.
What lovely thoughts Ingrid. When I see the perky yellow flower I will think of you and your poem.
At the end it offers
one more pleasure—
A feathery white head
to delight a child’s breath.
ahhhhh….. this is so beautiful and evocative, Ingrid. Thanks for celebrating this “lowly” plant.