I love dandelions, the first food for bees in spring, the spark of sunshine in a mostly gray world, and the promise of a color-filled world on its way. And I love dandelion poems and have written a few myself. You can find those I've shared here, here, and here. I imagine many of you know or have written a dandelion poem or two.
My favorite summer book is Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury.
At the used bookstore where I volunteer (the all-volunteer-run store) this donation came in a few weeks ago. I've been reading parts of it a little at a time. Some poems are familiar, from poets like Robert Louis Stevenson, Eugene Field, Emily Dickinson, Rachel Field and Celia Thaxter. So many are not familiar! And the one I'm sharing today is by Helen Gray Cone (1859-1934), "The Dandelions". Wikipedia shares she spent her entire life at Hunter College, was a poet and professor of English literature. You can read more about her here and find her work in other places like Gutenberg.
The Dandelion
Helen Gray Cone
Upon a showery night and still
Without a sound of warning,
A trooper band surprised the hill,
And held it in the morning.
We were not waked by bugle-notes,
No cheer our dreams invaded,
And yet, at dawn, their yellow coats
On the green slopes paraded.
We careless folk the deed forgot;
Till one day, idly walking,
We marked upon the self-same spot
A crown of vet'rans talking.
They shook their trembling heads and gray
With pride and noiseless laughter;
When, well-a-day! they blew away,
And ne'er were heard of after!
One last thing, a favorite memory with my younger granddaughter, Imogene, years ago. She's almost eleven now! It's accompanied by a quote from Dandelion Wine!
Happy July!
Thanks for sharing HGC's poetic take on the dandelion, Linda. I see plenty of their 'gray heads' trembling in the meadows near our house. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post. I love that your all-volunteer-book shop is a source of inspiration and reading joy. I'm putting it on my bucket list to visit someday! And, what a sweet and silly poem...that invading arming of dandelions. A perfect poem for today.
ReplyDeleteLinda, I had a wonderful morning wake-up with your post and previous ones that share the wonder of dandelions. The book that graced your book looks like it provides many hours of delightful reading. Your image of sweet Imogene is a beauty and that quote is one I have never heard. Dandelion wish weeds brings me back to my own childhood. Unfortunately, I have not seen the flashy dandelion puffs to blow away. They were probably on the creekside trail.
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ReplyDeleteLinda... I love Dandelion Wine also! I'm plugging it to my grandkids, probably too early. (Blush) This poem is so wonderful... the trembling gray heads... I haven't written a dandelion poem, so I must attempt. Today I found 2 poems that I will post next week, couldn't get to it this week. Too much afoot. The photo of little Imogene is precious! Thanks, and have a wonderful 4th.
ReplyDeleteMy 3.5 year old grandson has learned about dandelions and wanted to pick and blow each one on our recent trip to Seattle. Coincidentally I have a dandelion poem today. We are on the same wavelength. But I do not compare them to soldiers as Helen does. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWell, here's a new metaphor for the invasion of dandelions in spring! That last line's a little misleading, though...they'll be baaaack! Darling picture of Imogene with the perfect quote. I, too, am a lover of Dandelion Wine. Might be time for a re-read!
ReplyDeleteLove the picture of Imogene and the quote from Bradbury! What a wonderful image of taking a sip of summer. I'm off to find a copy of Dandelion Wine. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWhat a delightful post! Dandelions and "Dandelion Wine" are favorites of mine as well. This poem was an unexpected pleasure with its surprising metaphor. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone. I'm happy to read that some of you also love Dandelion Wine. For others, try to read it this summer & enjoy! Happy holiday weekend!
ReplyDeleteLinda, I just love the soldier/dandelion metaphor, the taking the hill with yellow and eventually their hair turning gray. Sweet poem that I would never have discovered but for you! I'm glad to know Professor and poet Helen Gray Cone.
ReplyDeleteThank you for all these bits of dandelion beauty. Bradbury is a wonder, isn't he? His sentences make me feel like I'm living in a magical world.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Laura, yes, I love all Bradbury's work, too.
DeleteHi Linda, love the new-to-me dandelion poem! I saved it to read again. (I checked because I wondered about two "invaded"s and the second one is "paraded.")
ReplyDeleteOh, I am sorry, and thought I had typed it correctly. Thanks for telling me!
DeleteLove all here, and especially Ray Bradbury's quote, lovely imagery—and Imogene is priceless here, thanks Linda!
ReplyDeleteLove all here, and especially Ray Bradbury's quote, lovely imagery—and Imogene is priceless here, thanks Linda! P.S. Writing this as the news spills out about the tragic shooting in Highland Park, where I lived for a portion of my life and is about 15 miles from my home today.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you told me, Michelle, how close you are, strong feelings I'm sure. I saw the news come up through the Washington Post feed. We desperately need to do something about our safety.
DeleteI don't think I would get much work done at that wonderful bookshop of yours! What a treasure you found! There are so many great images in this poem. My favorite is
ReplyDelete"their yellow coats/On the green slopes paraded." Thank you for sharing, Linda!
Thank you, Catherine. I do feel lucky about the bookstore & try hard not to bring home too many books, really! Yes, I love discovering the poem, too!
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