Prairie Waltz

Springtime ritual on the Oklahoma prairie.

Prairie Waltz

Frail dandelion,
alone on the prairie,
pretty in yellow
and green
waits for a partner.
As time passes,
her head turns
from butter to white.

Black cloud,
rotates overhead,
rumbles and crackles,
roars and swirls.
Rain drives hard.
In moments--
devastation.
.

Raspy grasses,
bow and sway,
to and fro.
Black fury
flattens them
to the earth.

Blue sky,
spotlights little
dandelion,
standing tall
even though
seeds are sent
to carry on
the dance.