May 29
The Cattails

Near the end of the spring as the snow disappears,
all along our bare highways the old cattails appear.
In the wind, like old souls, they ebb and they flow,
as the grass grows much greener in the earth just below.
Not much left there to look at but they all share a tale,
just inside its thick outside, shiny white seeds prevail.
While last summer's bright flowers disappeared and grew old,
Cattails strong little structure braced for the cold.
Not ripe in its color no soft scent to bare,
it stands proud in its marshes knowing it must prevail.
Like a soldier stripped bare in the trenches they quiver,
Their devotion to live makes them fight while all wither.
So next summer as you walk in a field filled with flowers,
Remember that most of their beauty will cower.
The strong ones, these cattails will just carry on.
Unbreakable they ebb and the flow as our gaze looks beyond. Hardship is honor they forever live on.