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Picture Credits:
If Dandelions were hard to grow, they would be most welcome on any lawn.
--Andrew V. Mason
LITTLE BROWN ROOT
By Nan Jacobs ©2002
"It's Spring," whispered Rain.
Far beneath the grass, Little Brown Root stretched and yawned.
"It's Spring!" shouted Wind.
Little Brown Root lifted his head. He looked around, but saw nothing but darkness. "I wonder what's going on?" he thought. "I better check."
Little Brown Root cautiously poked his top shoot upward. The soil, moist and surprisingly warm, gave way easily. "They're right," he thought. "It is spring at last!"
So he squeezed shut his eyes and shoved up and up until he broke through the top into the morning mist. With a grunt, he pushed forth a bunch of tiny green leaves, and greedily drank in the mist's moisture. He sighed. It had been a cold winter, indeed, and he was so happy to greet his old friend Sun as she tiptoed over the horizon.
Munch.
"AHHH!" cried Little Brown Root. "Watch what you bite, Big Brown Bunny!"
"Oh sorry," squeaked Big Brown Bunny. "Did I hurt you?" His pink nose--which looked quite large from Little Brown Root's viewpoint--twitched with concern.
Little Brown Root shook himself out, and realized all was well other than a missing leaf. In its place, another was already forming. "No, I guess you didn't hurt me, and another leaf will soon replace the one you ate. I was still half asleep, but now I remember that feeding the bunnies is one of my jobs! Please help yourself."
"I'm glad to see you back after the long winter. You're still so small I almost didn't notice you! I think I'll go look for some radish greens now, and let you rest for a while so you can grow," said Big Brown Bunny, and he hopped away to the garden.
Little Brown Root happily stretched forth his leaves as they grew and multiplied over the next week or two. His leaves broadened and darkened and lengthened in Sun's nurturing beams, and they soared proudly above the surrounding grass for all to see and admire. He finally sent forth his gifts to the world, his bright, lovely, yellow flowers. He was darned hard to miss, now.
Occasionally a smiling Young Boy would pluck his flowers. Little Brown Root enjoyed Young Boy's delight so much that he made more flowers.
Something bothered him, though. If he could have scratched his head, he would have, but he settled for wriggling deeper into the soft, warm earth. Just when he had decided he was worrying about nothing, he heard a sound that struck terror into his heart.
Dig-dig-dig.
Little Brown Root wanted to shrivel, but it was far too late. In desperation, he coaxed his remaining flowers into fluffy, opaque puffs of seed children. "Come now, Wind," he pleaded.
Dig-dig-dig.
"Oh, do hurry, Wind."
"Whooooooooooosh," said Wind. "I will spread your gifts." Wind tenderly gathered Little Brown Root's seed children and carried them away. Little Brown Root watched them dancing merrily, whirling through the trees, up and up, around and around.
"Good-bye, dear ones," whispered Little Brown Root. "Take care of the bunnies, for I will no longer be able to." He wilted and waited for the gardener to come.
Dig-dig-dig. Chop.
"Gotcha, you big ugly weed!" came a loud voice from far above.
Big Brown Bunny twitched his nose; his ears drooped. Wind sighed. Rain wept.
"Look," murmured Sun.
The seed children drifted far and near, their graceful ballet Little Brown Root's finest gift of all.
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I love an underdog.
Please have a look at the recipe page (Hot Bacon Dressing) for more dandelion championing. :)
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