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The Prodigal Son

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Sugar is sweet -
So, Mum, are you!

Violets are blue,
Roses are red...
How dare I say
What must be said?

Three weeks before
Easter, they say,
Comes round the feast
Called "Mother's Day".

I saved my cash
In my moneybox;
Yesterday Dad
Opened the locks.

But down at the shops
I met my friend John.
We bought a few sweets...
My money was gone!

I lay awake
Crying for hours -
What could I do
To get Mum her flowers?

Crept to the garden
In the grey dawn...
Saw something golden
On the green lawn...

Roses are red,
Violets are blue...
Daffs are a p-pound... P-p-p-lease,
Will dandelions do?

Author notes





For readers outside the UK, please note that our "Mother's Day" (or, to give it the older name, "Mothering Sunday") is, indeed, the fourth Sunday in Lent (i.e. three weeks before Easter Sunday) - and a bunch of daffodils or a posy of primroses is the traditional gift that the child offers his/her mother on this day...


A contest entry

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Comments

1 - 19 of 19

  • Roseamongweeds
    October 29

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    This is the sweetest! I've lost track how many times I've seen a young child give their parents dandelions, I've given some and gotten some myself! Great job and Good luck!


  • toomysterious
    October 28

    Edit | Reply
    A very sweet poem. I enjoyed this little journey back in time, remember when life was so simple and this was all one had to worry about, pleasing Mom. Good luck in your contest.


  • PurpleSky
    October 6

    Edit | Reply
    this is really cute. I loved the ending it was so adorably sweet and a perfect ending I think. thanks for taking the time to enter my contest and good luck to you
    huggles
    Lena


  • ScreaminMime
    December 21, 2008

    Edit | Reply

    Roses are Red,
    dandelions will do swell.

    Appropriate prewrite selected,
    I'm sure you will do well.


  • Shya
    June 10, 2008

    Edit | Reply
    I loved this cute poem! Especially the bit at the end, where the child asks, "Will dandelions do?" Thanks for entering.


  • cricketjeff gold member
    June 3, 2008

    Edit | Reply
    This was my "personal favourite" poem in so many ways, but when judging you have to come up with criteria and stick with them. There is almost nothing to choose between second and 4th and as a result we are awarding an extra 50 points here.
    Great joke beautifully observed wonderfully executed. Rhyme and flow perfect. Maybe our "experts" didn't like adults reminded that not all children are perfect!!!


  • Gwenevere
    May 17, 2008

    Edit | Reply
    I love it, you naughty girl.This mad me laugh so much.A typical thing a child would do.a really refreshing write.Well done, Ros


  • NeonRose
    May 11, 2008
    Edit | Reply
    An adorable write! I'm sure the dandelions would be welcome..


  • nightshade10
    December 9, 2007

    Edit | Reply
    Very funny and cute. I like the innocence here, as if the speaker couldn't help losing all the money! Very good. Thanks for entering this in my contest.


  • masterblaster gold member
    September 28, 2007

    Edit | Reply
    Hi Vera, cute poem, my what a long comment in youir author box, you never let us put even a comma,lol. congratulations on the silver. D


  • Melodies
    September 28, 2007

    Edit | Reply
    Ah, I would be delighted to get the bouquet of dandelions! What a precious poem! Splendid and tender.


  • Myjoy gold member
    March 5, 2007
    Edit | Reply
    This is smart and sweet. Well done. Good luch in the contest.


  • sarajaneUK
    June 9, 2006
    Edit | Reply
    Smirkles, I love this, simple words, and a lovely funny ending too. Great stuff. sj


  • Shawnnessy
    June 9, 2006
    Edit | Reply
    oh wow. that was soo cute. i think i have done stuff like that before. just get lost and forget about time and what you are really doing, then remember it later. i loved the little studder at the end.that was sooo cute


  • poetryality silver member
    March 8, 2006
    Edit | Reply
    This poem put me in the mind of the time my six year old grandson (three at the time) decided that he wanted to give me flowers, and picked almost all the dandelions in my front yard as his bouquet. LOL I cherished them as much as roses.

    I like that you used something as cliche as "roses are red, violets are blue..." to create such a tender work. I also appreciate you introducing us to your traditional Mother's Day (Mothering Sunday). I love learning of other cultural celebrations.

    There's a funny coincidence in our family. My dad's birthday was always around Mother's Day and my mom's birthday was always around Father's Day (I mean one or two days in between). So, me and my siblings always had to buy two gifts regardless. LOL

    Very whimsical work here. An enjoyable read.

    Renee
    Edited on Mar 08, 9:42 p.m. because ''.

  • disparate
    March 2, 2006
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    Aw, I loved this poem, it seemed really sweet, and it sounded like something that would and could happen to any child.
    The thought behind this was indeed sweet, I particularily liked the stutter at the end, it just made everything fall into place in my eyes.
    Thank you for entering this in my contest, I enjoyed reading this, and I'm sure others have too.

  • Vera Rich
    February 25, 2006
    Edit | Reply
    We called them the same thing... the leaves make a delicious salad - and the flowers make an excellent wine... but they are strongly diuretic ... so it is not a good idea to eat/drink dandelion products for supper! Conversely - women suffering from the urine retention that can aggravate PMT may find dandelion-leaf salad (eaten at lunch-time) extremely helpful!


  • individuality gold member
    February 25, 2006
    Edit | Reply
    hehehe dandelions, we used to call them wee the beds when we were little! for the life of me though, i can not remember why. something to do with stepping on them i think. someone who lives in canada question marked me on the use of daffs only yesterday. a sweet light-hearted piece here, poor mum, wee the beds it is then

1 - 19 of 19