sometimes growth demands struggle:
the hard dry soil, the fast hot wind,
the broken pavement, the unkind
weeds and words. but other subtle
growths are surrenders: the faded
genes, the shrunken seed, the jaded
smile, the discarded stubble.

and even when all goes well
the leaves must spread
the flowers must bloom
the fruit must fall. only
the roots grow deep together;
how few, how precious few, are
the friends who do not grow away!