At dandelion's puff

At dandelion's puff
    the children laugh
cause of their mirth
    the gardener's curse
grasp the thrusty thistle (ha ha!)
    and ouch! they bristle (oh bah!)

    "every gift a debt to pay" –
who's right    who's wrong
    is every dance a roundelay
is Pan an ass whose reed we play
    to charm with notes of witty worth?
ask the gent that owns the earth
    for round and round we spin a tale
to entice the ear: so have a care
    a tongue well-sprung will pull a cart
read me this riddle -- and then we'll part

mmvii