before the sun bore down

on the days of sunflower yellow

and make believe dreams of a pink frilly gown

i’d bellow, “hello, scarecrows, hello!”

but the sun dipped down

and the yellow clipped golden

the day they came around

eyes sad and hearts broken

my dad - he reminded me

“my dear, nothing in this world is free.”

and my mother - she taught me

“sometimes not everyone will love you, you see.”

and the sun kept going - up and down

my dreams no longer included a gown

but to spin my own gold from the straw i found

when i planted my feet firmly on the ground