Legs rooted deep in the soil
take their last
achy
stretch.
clutching the little life it has left

It reaches up to the seeds
aged with the bitter nights,
clenches them with a feeble grip

Petals
once capturing the butter of the sun
now collect the affection
of children’s wandering eyes and hands
lassoing in their treads.

The dandelion groans with a zephyr,
joining its dance one last time
this time
at a
slug
gish
tem
po.

Its bones wilted, the wildflower can no longer keep up.
Finger by finger
the dandelion relaxes its grasp
petal by petal
the dancer divides

The seeds perform a dance that stirs
the canvas around it into
silvery notes on a sapphire page

Fresh, young eyes follow the paths drawn in the sky
envisioning the luminosity they bring when
they once again stretch their legs down
to touch the life
nestled deep in the earth.