Dandelion: A Poem From the Perspective of a Military Kid

By Konnor J., Age 17

The seeds of a dandelion

Not the seeds of a weed

They spread amongst the world,

Carried by the wind into

Myriad backyards, and

City parks, and

Through windows. And

Many skies, and faces

Of the moon, they’ve seen.

The wind on which they ride

Originates from the pursed,

Angry lips of those

That wish to blow the dandelion away.

The pursed lips whistle

A sour goodbye note

To uproot them into

A sky-melody. The lips

Wish that more wishes be made,

And more seeds of the dandelion

Be blown astray.

These seeds, where they’ve

Started matters not.

It’s where they’ve gone,

And who they’ve brushed past,

And what flowers they’ve planted–

Flowers! for who are you

To call a dandelion a weed?

Some say the wind is a devil,

Stirring up dust and uprooting homes;

But the music of the wind

Is the notes of angelsong–

God’s voice, as if

Spoken through a flute.

The seeds beg for motion.

And, though mourning comes with leaving,

Nothing is lost.

Eternity through progeny is gained.

These resilient seeds,

They belong to the world,

Carried by the wind

Into the soils of Gaia.

Lift up this green carpet,

You’ll see a pangaea-network

Of roots interwoven.

O, fields of Virginia flowers;

O, forest meadows of Maryland trees:

You litter the nation;

You envelop the Earth.

Domineering you are,

Weeding me out.

If the ground belongs to you,

Then the sky belongs to me.

God’s crescendo carries me

High above and I look down,

Seeking sanctuary;

There is yet soil set aside for me,

Down there in California

Among the trees.

Where, O weeping willow tree,

Did you start?

What lips have blown you

With the wind of a wish?

And whose cheek have you caressed?

Through whose window

Did you fly, and

Where were you dropped

Into the soil?

Look down:

Your stem is your roots,

And they’ve yet to move.

Where are the seeds of a dandelion?

Look up:

They are carried through the staves of angelsong.

The diaspora of your

Flowers is focused–

See everywhere

The fruits of a dandelion;

For who are you

To call a dandelion a weed?

How the USO Supports Military Kids like Konnor

Life as a member of a military family can be challenging for everyone, especially military children who, while not wearing a uniform, still “serve” in their own way. The USO recognizes their sacrifice as well as their needs and continues to find ways to support them.

With over 250 USO Centers around the globe, many military children can turn to a USO Center as a familiar “home away from home,” no matter where they are stationed. Here, they will be provided kid-friendly activities that can help them feel and build a sense of community, as well as bond with other children who are going through the same challenges as they are. These Centers host programs for kids of various age groups and can be anything from arts and crafts activities and family game nights, to cooking classes and scavenger hunts.

Aside from USO Centers each having their own programs for kids, these Centers are also home to the USO Reading Program, where both service members and military children can record themselves reading a book on camera, and send the recording as well as a copy of the book to their service member or child who is far and away.

USO Centers and programming continue to keep all military community members in mind. Whether it’s stateside, where military children are still often far from loved ones, or overseas where they are both far from home and in a new world completely unfamiliar to them, military children can always turn to their local USO Center for support and community.