Dandelion
By: Tristan Peterman

All it takes is one person,
one special person.
That special person can make you see the world in a different way.
She chose to show me the dandelion.

I had never seen it as anything special before.
I saw it like most people,
as a weed in poison commercials on television,
in yards and along the side of the road.

My dad would warn my sister and me,
they were not pretty flowers.
“They have no purpose,” he would say.
“They just spread their filthy seeds.”

Every time a little boy or girl makes a wish and blows,
the florets take flight into the air.
The wind carries the seeds and wishes to the next yard and begins anew.
There the dandelion sits, waiting and wishing for another child to come and wish on it,
begging for yet another adventure.

Some people do not appreciate the dandelion.
It is not as beautiful as a daylily, an orchid or a tulip.
But dandelions have a much deeper meaning.
They give children a chance at an extra wish outside of their birthday candles.
But most importantly they remind me of my special someone.

When I see a dandelion, I stop and think of her.
And I wish she was still here with me,
Encouraging me and giving me hope.
Just like our dandelion, giving wishes to children.