Dandelions

[Tiger the Lion]

Dandelions
 
I have friends who are dandelions;
you can rip off their heads
and half their guts with a dull gas mower
and tomorrow they’ll be back
with bright yellow smiles.
 
It’s the houseplants
I’m weary of;
you can swaddle them in loamy soil,
mist them with soft words
and still, make one mistake
and never hear from them again.

[dukealien]

Admirably expressed, and briefly.

Couldn't help but wonder, though:  what of dandy white-haired lions... I mean, white-haired dandelions?  Which are as easily decapitated and stream away like smoke, but return in tenacious families instead of singly at the same store?

[Achebe]

Nice pun on 'weary'
'Mist them'
'Bright yellow smiles'

Delightful

[just mercedes]

Very nice extended metaphor. Somehow optimistic, too.

[Tiger the Lion]

Thanks guys. I have a few minor tweaks I'll make shortly.

[ChristopherSea]

Hey Paul,

You could not be more true about the indestructible weed and the fragile houseplant. You may need something like

'It's those who are houseplants...'

just to keep the metaphor going. Nice wisdom and moral herein, like an Aesop's Fable.

Best/Chris