Oldest

Close up photo of a yellow and purple flower in a bush.

Leads by example:
the flower first to blossom
amidst bush of buds.

Host

Close up photo of a spider web between a leaves of a cactus plant.

Spider makes her home
between the grooves of cactus—
house plant becomes host.

Return

Close up photo of a pink rose on the bush.

Roses have returned:
winter showers didn’t drown them
nor my pruning kill.

March on

close up photo of a stick insect on a t-shirt that has the word "go" on it

Embrace the tailwind,
our universe is cheering;
march on, brave soldier.

Resilient

photo of an armond tree in full bloom, leaning towards the sun

Hardy almond grows
leaning towards the sunshine—
survivor mindset.