Preoccupied

photo of a security worker looking at his phone, while ahead of him, a Christmas light show plays on a large building

We consider life
gazing deep into our phones
while Santa dances

Flowering

Close up photo of a snapdragon flower.

Like a pop up stall,
objects of dainty colours—
my sidewalk in spring.

Fussy

Close up photo of a lettuce seedling and a mushroom nearby.

High maintenance greens;
two months to grow three inches—
mushrooms take a day.

Hot

Close up photo of a red cap on a store with the words, “Ho, Ho, Ho!”

A big breezy cap,
in the holiday spirit—
Santa in summer.

Growth

photo of an empty escalator as seen from below

Tripping up others,
climbing corporate ladders—
growth, allegedly.