
Sadness is in the sun cup shaded by weeds
the elderberry tree draped in cape ivy
the coast live oak strangled by Algerian ivy
the sagebrush shaded by eucalyptus
the French broom marching over the meadow
the trail overgrown with poison oak and other plants
the numbered days of the mules ears and poppies blooming in a vacant lot

Happiness is in the sun cup continuing to bloom despite the weeds around it
the elderberry tree growing leaves and flowers despite the cape ivy covering it
the coast live oak standing tall despite the ivy crawling up its trunk
the sagebrush growing and flowering despite being shaded by eucalyptus
the meadow with flowers blooming despite the advancing broom
the trail still passable despite the overgrowth
the mules ears and poppies continuing to bloom in the vacant lot despite their numbered days
-Margot Cunningham
