Common Milkweed
- Milkweed
- On a sparkling day some children in play opened up milkweed
- Pods between fingers and thumbs with delight.
- Once set free brown seeds from inside with white spun, silk
- Threads took to a breeze in summery, magical flights.
- Little did those children know for Monarch butterflies green,
- Sunny homes like pure heaven they were making -
- Milkweed villas where caterpillars munch leaves and soon to
- Open are shiny orange, butterfly wings.
- If we went back to our childhood when joyful milkweed pods
- We found all called to us to come out and play -
- They'd be more Monarchs in the wondrous world to bring
- Magnificent happiness and brighten up our days!
- Gayle Sweeney
October 2010