I Am the Daisy First published in Airengs, Fall 1996 (England) girls in second grade are glorious flowers we wear crepe paper petals on our sweet young heads I am the daisy drooping white petals hang down all around my hair my lank tiara gracing this hot American day a princess of petals in a white linen pinafore I dance with the other flowers in a wobbly circle I am the daisy we swirl around the Maypole in bright sunlight in harsh white sunlight of a long ago spring FDR has died but the show must go on woozy I long to seek respite in the schoolyard shade I am the daisy I have to dance but who cares about the Maypole these wilted flowers now that the President is dead in our floral headdresses we are the fresh flowers of spring we salute the flag we sing our anthem I am the daisy I flee to the sidelines throw up in the heat run to the bleachers hide under them in the shadows I search for shade darkness quiet children's voices are loud and clear I pledge allegiance I am the daisy I have stained my pinafore the petals paint my skin paper flowers cannot endure our historical heat I wait for my grandmother she takes my hand leading me firmly from childhood showing me its end I am the daisy the petals I wear all fall away into hot silence the President is dead the radio keeps on playing Mary Herbert |