Tossing rings

Squirting little ducks in a row

Darts popping balloons

A clown in a dunk tank

You show no mercy

Letting him fall again and again

It’s all for him

That dandelion bear

Inconceivably soft

And even taller than you are

You must have him

He must be yours

And at last

When your hands are sore from tossing

One million ducks pelted with water

You’ve put the balloon industry under

With so many darts

And that clown is begging you

To wait for a shift change

He is finally yours

That dandelion bear

The most delectable trophy

Big enough to be your bed

Barely fits in the back of your mom’s car

He blocks the back windshield

And your mom grunts and groans

But you have him

And he is yours

Set him up in the corner of your room

On top of smaller stuffies

Who don’t matter anymore

Hug his giant dandelion arms

A new best friend

The only one you could ever need

You snuggle into bed and smile at him

Hardly believing he’s yours

But a low hum awakes you

When everything is dark and still

Head to the bathroom for relief

You catch a glimpse of the dandelion bear

And you swear his eyes follow you

His tender paw waves up and down

And an almost inaudible whisper echoes

“You are mine”