Let me be no hothouse flower                                   

full of heady promise                               

that expires at the first hint of frost.                                  

Let me be a dandelion

sunny of spirit, tenacious of life,

my very nature a healing tonic to all who drink me in

no thorns, nor nettle-sting when adversity strikes

only a bright delight

that I am still here

and smiling at you

 

And when I come to my end of days

if I have offered any kindness, any joy

let it root deep and multiply

let it send a thousand hardy seeds

to spread, oh, everywhere

           Like a dandelion