DANDELIONS

If nothing ever changed; there would be no butterflies

 

Dandelions

I wish people would watch where they are going

But it's hard to navigate around these narrow sidewalks

 

If they would just simply accept me

I'll trade and move across the street

Where there's much space to wiggle

and not be confined on this parched,

precarious concrete crack

 

Not much rain this year either

Yet thank God, I managed to bloom !

But it was damaged and trampled

not once, not twice but a hundred times over

 

I wish people would watch where they are stepping

Nevertheless, I might still,

still attract some prospects this summer

 

I hear again the laughter of daisies and tulips

across that well manicured lawn

 Where monsoons come almost regularly,

everyday from the ground

 

No wonder butterflies and bees congregate there

The grass is greener and their flowers

are more vibrant and sweeter

 

Then out of the blue, you came

Fluttering in your most gorgeous

gossamer wings

And you graze my flower...

by Neil ArandA  05/02/2014

 

 

Author's Note

Whether you love them or hate them, dandelions are among the most familiar plants in the world.
They're one species that just about anyone can identify at a glance, as familiar to humans as the dog. Dandelions are, quite possibly, the most successful and resilient plants that exist, masters of survival worldwide.

Nowadays, they're also the most unpopular plant in the neighborhood – but it wasn't always that way. Only in the twentieth century did humans decide that the dandelion was a weed before the invention of lawns.

Butterflies and bees by nature aren't really attracted to dandelions. Their flowers are minute and don't hold enough nectar for sustenance and honey production.

Words and thoughts inspired by Kalypso ...

Reviews

[Ghost of Jupiter]

This is beautiful Neil, I love it! It is a shame that people do not watch where they are stepping and trample over the most sensitive souls... leaving dirty footsteps all over their hearts. You have captured the sadness of the forlorn... the loneliness of the outcasted...yet gave them the light of hope that even those cast aside are treasures in the eye of a butterfly.

[NeiL ArandA]

Thanks K that you finally read it . The last stanza and line really said it all. There are some selected people or person that God brings into our life who reach out and reach down to us and touches our heart with their friendship and kindness. At last you have finally graze my piece !

[Ghost of Jupiter]

I am sorry I was so late to read this amazing poem Neil... I will flutter by more often, :)

[NeiL ArandA]

You are free to flutter and soar and return as often as you please ... fly away my sweet and lovely friend

[Ghost of Jupiter]

I think I am going to rest my wings in a safe place for a while... perhaps I will find some shelter for the winds have carried me to dark lands. I need the sun again... Thank you for being a ray of hope, Friend. xo

[NeiL ArandA]

As I see you soar the heavens once more.. I too find myself free ... Let me know if you need a lift from the sparrow :)

[Ghost of Jupiter]

haha... well the sparrow is always welcome to lend a feathered hand ... my soaring is off kilter these days.

[Ghost of Jupiter]

just revisiting this lovely piece.... :)

[NeiL ArandA]

Oh that was so sweet of you my friend . I saw you got some new one too.

[Ghost of Jupiter]

umm yeah maybe since you last visited ... not sure how many... don't worry about reading them, they are nothing but little musings.

[NeiL ArandA]

waiting for your next visit

[Ghost of Jupiter]

I silently visit this one often...flutter in and flutter out without a sound... it is a lovely spot to rest weary wings. Next time I will leave my mark on a petal so you know I have been by. :) much love xoxox

[NeiL ArandA]

Don't stop writing K

[ANTO]

This was really moving Neil. The personification of the weed and its thoughts of its surrounds, its lot in life, its reason for being. Really inventive and well told. They are so resilient though and you also conveyed that well here.
I have to say that we may think similarly because I have often looked in admiration at the buddleia bushes that grow out of chimney stacks no less, all year round and thought - what a tough wee plant they are too.
A grand write filled with life lessons and metaphor. Good penning Neil.
:)

[NeiL ArandA]

Sorry for the late reply to your review ANTO. I do agree with you. What we sometimes minimize, marginalize and label as insignificant often times possess the most beautiful, colorful and sweetest flowers. We discover true beauty and character in someones obscurity ...

[Melinda McQueen]

Awww This is so sweet. You know... dandelions can grow anywhere, even in the most harsh places... perhaps they are meant to inspire strength.
A great write.
I wrote a story about a flower garden titled Room Enough to Bloom. Feel free to read it.

[NeiL ArandA]

Thank you for grazing this piece Melinda and spending your time here.

[Riss Ryker]

What an amazing, compelling piece! As a flower gardner, I was made to feel quite ashamed of my treatment of the ever abundant dandelion. (the leaves made a GREAT salad, though.) As we can apply this to our lives, where we overlook, forget about (or try), and turn our heads to what is conceived as ugly, or unpleasing to the eye. The line "I wish people would watch where they are going" is very powerful in this piece as people only have eyes for their cell phones or the task at hand. Loved this! You certainly made me think!

[NeiL ArandA]

You can really relate to this Riss .... I used and poured out all the experiences I encountered in life. I have looked poverty in the face. Seen a grieving mother helplessly cling to her dying child. The looked on the face of a starving child. I have seen devastated people ravage by natural disaster ridiculed by well off people. Yet there are still some people who are kind and sympathetic to them. Appreciate this. You have done great justice on my piece.

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

I share your opinion about this beautiful flower. Here in Belgium it's also considered as a weed. We also have the thistle, a purple flower that is also considered as weed and I think it's one of the most beautiful flowers in nature and it's also very resilient.
I like the metaphor you use with this flower in your poem. Nonetheless they need no special furtiliser or beautiful grass, they still grow and coulour our roadsides in their simplicity. Picture them away and everything will be dull and grey. Very well done, Neil.

[NeiL ArandA]

Thank you Rudi for your thoughts. I have seen people on another part of the globe. How they thrive and survive in the most inhospitable and deplorable place. Yet they lived their lives with a smile on their face and a gratitude in their heart. Not bitter nor resentful of their circumstances. Weeds learned to cope and appreciate what they have been dealt with in life amid hostilities and indifferences society throw at them. Thank you so much Rudi.

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

My pleasure, Neil, have a good day. :) Rudi

[Nusquam Esse]

This reminds me of a novel by renown Japanese writer Natsume Souseki titled "Grass on the Wayside", and his autobiographical tale of having people tread upon his heart with indifference, being crushed under the weight of obligations and shallow human interactions which grew empty over the years... and the way that he would confine himself to 'the wayside', wary of others in his life. In fact the novel ends with him remarking that it was futile to avoid those sorts of things, because everything would just keep repeating. That by his nature, he was meant to be trodden underfoot. Not exactly a cheerful story, but unfortunately one which many can relate to. I like the way that you take this sort of idea, and combine it with such an ambivalent plant such as the Dandelion, either a flower, or a weed? There is something magical about that moment when we connect with someone else in a profound way that seems to give meaning to life that we thought could never exist. To have someone gently touch us, to connect, and to share a moment which matters to both... rather than indifferent steps, a gentle grace. To be accepted as more than just a weed, or even a flower, but rather for who we are.

[NeiL ArandA]

Nusquam. It seems to me that you are well verse with Japanese stories and may have read thousands of them. I myself love Japanese stories and theme. I do watch Japanese anime and of course loves Japanese cuisine.

What Natsume Souseki experienced is quite common. Not in the sense that is condone or the norm but prevalent in our society. Disappointments is a normal part of life. I do like the expression of resolved Natsume concluded. Something that we cannot avoid because often times the ones that we are closely link with in life, may it be our spouse, friends, brothers, sister, parents, pastors/minister, teacher, etc can indeed disappoints us. Not counting our enemies. But its a fact and harsh reality of life. To be discourage by it is a personal choice. A choice that we can make if we want to rise to the occasion.

I have been around with many people with different professing beliefs and doctrine. And I watch their life in connection with their lips and listen. You will be amaze. Thank you Nusquam for your in-depth thought on this piece...

[Nusquam Esse]

Yes, I lived in Japan and I speak Japanese; so I naturally am well versed with Japanese culture and literature. Heck, I can even cook a sizable number of Japanese dishes; my favourite of which is Katsudon. And you are very right about the choices we make; albeit chemical balance of the brain may also play a part. Living with a good attitude can go a long way; I find that my life is much more satisfying when I focus on what I personally can do, and how I can live with dignity, rather than focusing on the inequality in other's behavior.

[VALORMORE DE PLUME]

Many aspects here to consider. This is a treasure of concepts. The prospective is illuminating on several levels.

[NeiL ArandA]

Thanks Valormore...Thanks for dropping by again.

[icelandicblue]

Plants fall in and out of fashion. Black-Eyed-Susans are weeds too. I love them. I love dandelions the most when they are ready to fly. I like the poem and the metaphor I see in this...if only they would watch where they step...we are all delicate and especially beautiful at times I think.

[NeiL ArandA]

Appreciate your thoughts here Icelandicblue... Yes you are right. Everyone no matter how misplace and outplace they are have a purpose and place in this world. Sometimes those we often minimize and neglect has the greatest potential and purpose in the world. Character and virtues are often forge and develop during times of adversity and people who have been exposed to harsh reality of life developed such attitude. Thank you again .. I will return the favor...

[Matching Socks]

I do love this on so much. Well done.

[NeiL ArandA]

I promised someone that I would write her a piece as a token of her friendship . Not knowing how and where I'm going to get started. The last stanza came out first and I built my piece and plot from that going up. I wanted to capture all the feelings and emotions and the sadness of being ostracized and marginalized by society. And how someone that is so beautiful and lovely be so caring and compassionate to a lowly and outcast flower. Thank you Ana for your time and thoughts.

[Matching Socks]

You're welcome Neil. I read this on HP too and I adored it. Beautiful.

[Briana O'Connor]

There is so much one can take from this. Truly brilliant. I like the concept of a flower being alone staring across the field at the ones that flock together. It reminds me of being in high school, sitting by myself in the lunch room with my book, looking up from the pages at the "popular" crowd, wondering why the always seemed to attract so much attention. Great food for thought, this is. Well done.

[NeiL ArandA]

So many feel and can relate to what you just said. They are many picky butterflies but they are some selected few who stoops for lowly flowers. Thanks for the visit Briana

[Kieta!]

I love dandelions :) This is a very cool poem, great job! :)

[NeiL ArandA]

Thanks Kieta for the visit and your time