You remember dens leonis is Latinfor “lion’s tooth” after the weed’s
serrated leaves, that the Britishcall the soft white ball they become
dandelion clocks, that the Frenchcall them pissenlit for “piss in bed.”
Your child names them sunshines.How does knowing this help?
After days of rain, they reclaimthe lawn—first as the suns,
later, as moons, & when they go toseed, as stars that catch on
the dog’s haunches while shelopes around the yard chasing
bees. How does this help?Your wife running after the dog,
the dog chasing bees, they forman orrery around your daughter
who holds a drooping bouquetof weeds. In a few more weeks,
she will be able to erase theheads with her breath.
Casey Thayer is the author of Rational Anthem, finalist for the Miller Williams Poetry Prize, and…
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The American Poetry Review (Digital) - 1 Issue, March/April 2025