The Volunteer

As I walked along the sidewalk I saw the flower,

a volunteer growing up through a crack.

It looked upward in defiance,

refusing to wither and give in.

Stem awkwardly long and twisted,

pale leaves outstretched straining for the sun.

Its petals bruised by a thousand footsteps,

stained and choked by exhaust.

Forced to thrive in unpleasantness,

just because of the way the wind had blown.

Prompt

Image Credit: Flower in a sidewalk crack by Fuzzy Gerdes via flikr CC BY 2.0