A wonderful book and the inspiration for this poem.

Dandelion Wine

Children of the destitute
Learning young of pain
Like living cups of water
Poured into a drain
Lives of flowering promise
Not allowed to shine
Never ever tasting of
Dandelion wine

Children of the worldly
Growing old too soon
Never time to contemplate
Beneath the summer moon
Run around in circles
Walk a crooked line
Missing all the glories of
Dandelion wine

Children of the violence
Nations torn by war
Alcoholic parents
Never healing sores
Frightened by a shadow
Running out of time
Tasting only fleetingly
Of dandelion wine

Growing to adulthood
Grim reality
A world so cold conditioned by
Practicality
Age forgets the days of youth
Too often now I find
Lost are days of innocence
And dandelion wine

Golden days of summer
Fresh and bright and sweet
Moments filled with wonder
Living made complete
For the children yet to be
Hear this prayer of mine
May they all drink deeply of
Dandelion wine