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POEM
Dandelion Dilemma

Darlene Klassen

When your 5-year-old comes and silently stands beside you
as you vigorously dig your long “dandelion root destroyer”
5 inches into the ground with one hand, and pull at the plant with the other
till the whole thing comes out of the ground,
satisfied, you move to the next plant

Until your 5-year-old asks you what you are doing?

And you (with no small amount of guilt)
recall the little hands gripping precious yellow flowers,
bringing them into the kitchen with kisses
and promises that he will always bring you flowers
every day when he is five, and then when he gets older
and even when he is a grandpa

he’ll always bring you flowers.
the promise is sealed with a kiss.

Sitting on my heels
with my 5-year-old standing beside me
and the uprooted dandelion crushed in my hand

I wonder who thought to call them weeds

Darlene Klassen is a member of Coaldale (Alta.) MB Church.

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Last modified June 5, 2001.

© 2001 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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