I spy a plant on the side of a sidewalk.

Covered in flowers both red and white like precious gems.

Full and settled comfortably under the the late afternoon sky.

Reflecting back the sunset in bisected color.

Large and lush to speak of a long silent history.

A journey I could never hope to know.

***

I ask anyway: where have you been?

Were you planted in the the yard of some eager family?

Ripped from the ground to grow somewhere else.

Planted by specialists to meet a need that would not be met otherwise.

The answer to a wish.

Life substituted for care.

***

Were your flowers picked with care?

Small hands making a rough bouquet for a parent.

Larger hands carefully making a surprise for a loved one.

Or simply left to fall to the ground.

Untouchable works of art.

Too precious to cause an early death.

***

Have the animals experienced your wonder?

Bugs scuttling underneath like secret spies.

Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds flitting from flower to flower like a delicate dance.

Birds taking cover in your deepest branches on hot days.

Your branches reaching out to touch the soft fur of cats as they stalk around the neighborhood.

Dogs curled up in your shade deep asleep and perfectly protected from the tyranny of the sun.

***

Have you been trampled on in the past?

Stepped on by lack of attention or care.

Ran over by playing kids that meant well.

Stomped on by a jilted lover.

Chewed on by pests.

Your beauty could never tell.

***

No matter your past, your beauty remains.

You remain under the same sunset sky.

Continuing to show off your colors.

Silent as the clouds passing by.

Silent in response to the question that I will continue to ask.

Where have you been?