[when i was small]

when i was small
sitting in the backyard
making dandelion crowns-
splitting stems with nails
and using clumsy fingers
to twine dreams together

and the white puffs of late summer,
plucked and wished upon
i whistled tiny dancers away
knowing, if only i had the strength
the breath
to blow them all away

but somehow i could never
i am not that strong
[sometimes brave]
and i will always be that
girl in the clover patch
wishing on dandelions
for flower-crowned dreams