10 THE DANDELIONS

Upon a showery night and still,

Without a sound of warning,

A trooper band surprised the hill,

And held it in the morning.

We were not waked by bugle notes;

No cheer our dreams invaded;

And yet, at dawn, their yellow coats

On the green slopes paraded.

We careless folk the deed forgot,

Till one day, idly walking,

We marked upon the selfsame spot

A crowd of veterans talking.

They shook their trembling heads and gray

With pride and noiseless laughter;

When, well-a-day! they blew away,

And ne’er were heard of after!

( Helen Gray Cone )

Biography

Helen Gray Cone (1859-1934), an American poet, born in New York City, is a Professor of English in Hunter College. She has written many strong, beautiful poems. Some of her published works are: The Ride to the Lady and Other Poems, Soldiers of the Light and Other Poems, and A Chant of Love for England and Other Poems, from which this selection is taken.

Word list

dawn : the day’s beginning

veterans : those who have fought in wars

You Practice

Answer the following questions.

1) What is the coming of dandelions compared to?

2) Why did the poet set the coming of the dandelions “upon a showery night”?

3) What does the second stanza tell you?

4) What does the poet compare dandelions to in the third stanza?

5) What happens to the dandelions?