Growing Amid Thorns

Timely, a rapid germ enters a rich soil, Grows into a plantlet all green to admire. Enraged thorns obstruct its growing tall. Old it will grow, no matter the prickles. Shade reduces it into an undesirable tree That raises and pushes up the sun to see. Visibly, the skin’s hurt to develop scars, No matter the shade, it will see the sun. Its cicatrized body revives endurance, For herbs and water, it needs to heal, And rejuvenated old skin shed to sparkle. Its stamina, the cicatrices will entice. But shed sap, stripes it left in mind. Mud and sunlight, I walked in keenly To watch leaves dying off branches. Still, the blood built the leaves’ hope. Yellowish, silently they fade on land. Finally, nasty winds blow’em away, Break and make’m carpet for beasts. Over that muddle, they laid soundless To fertilize the soil for new flora to emerge Amongst tall’n green foliage to admire The courage to quake angry axes ready to chop Leads resistant germ to grow despite the soil. Such is the life of a courageous and hopeful man. Poem by Mugisho N. Theophile