Helen Gray Cone

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 self-same spot

A crowd of vet'rans 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!