A weed undermines the idea of the perfect yard sprouting its yellow head amongst the green. Pesticides cannot make this king retreat its golden crown. It is hated by many yet within its stems and pedals beauty can be found. A young boy handed me a handful of these beautifully hated members of nature. My hands became sticky with jaundice, but I couldn't help but smile at this gesture. Beauty can be found everywhere.
As I stood holding this bouquet of beauty, I thought of my youth. The many golden chains I braided together reminded me of the freedom lost in childhood. How many times I collected the weeds to chant "Mama had a baby and her head popped off" to skillfully slice the stem with the nail of my thumb. How care free we thought of a week as a brilliantly blooming flower. How we longed to find the perfect fuzzy head at summer's end, inhale the fresh warm air, and spread our happiness throughout the yard. The triumph that was felt when scattering all of the seeds with one strong breath (especially for an asthmatic) is irreplaceable. Dandelions are the great paradox of gardening; they are a nuisance yet bring moments of beauty and happiness.
As I stood holding this bouquet of beauty, I thought of my youth. The many golden chains I braided together reminded me of the freedom lost in childhood. How many times I collected the weeds to chant "Mama had a baby and her head popped off" to skillfully slice the stem with the nail of my thumb. How care free we thought of a week as a brilliantly blooming flower. How we longed to find the perfect fuzzy head at summer's end, inhale the fresh warm air, and spread our happiness throughout the yard. The triumph that was felt when scattering all of the seeds with one strong breath (especially for an asthmatic) is irreplaceable. Dandelions are the great paradox of gardening; they are a nuisance yet bring moments of beauty and happiness.
