A perennial Alaska wildflower

The wind and birds spread my seed
sometimes in flooded marshes
or along abandoned roadsides
mostly where human beings do not step
          human eyes cannot see

I come back most years

          even if ever so briefly

Even after hard, cold winters
I am a flower because I bloom, wilt, blossom, wilt, bloom and wilt, blossom and wilt

On and on until my roots are yanked out or rot

Then one night
the Thrasher came
and whacked me to the ground

Uglily
in the best interest of those who travel along
by where I live
At first, I seemed dead

But my roots spread wide

And I emerged again

Now I know the Thrasher will come again

And the rainy days, they keep my roots strong and growing

I look to fall, when my seeds ready themselves to fly away

In winter I am quiet and still, blanketed under snow

When spring comes and I am chilled by wet mud
I know this too will pass.

I am a Flower because I was created as a flower

I am a flower even after the Thrasher comes

I am

A flower