Dandelion

By Jeanne Yu

I am the unwanted

sons

and suns

of your backyard’s

greener grass:

jagged leaves, dente de lion

a humble healing

for the chaotic curses

of the world

I give you

more vitamin A

        than spinach

more vitamin C

        than tomatoes

vitamins K, E, iron,

magnesium, potassium

and calcium. 

You give me

Roundup.

I lived for

Egyptians removing toxins,

Greeks boiled as a side dish,

Romans to combat scurvy,

Japanese tempura,

Chinese to heal

        the liver –

and in one single century,

you cancelled me

into a weed.

Shade me or pull me

if you must,

but please do not

make me the poisoned

messenger.

I will not give up

on you, my roots

still aerate the earth,

concoct nectar

for bees and butterflies,

and seeds for the birds.