Like Joshua

a hidden beauty

The freakish structure
bent towards
the cracked earth;
almost toppled right over
yet frozen in a distorted
fashion, leaving it to
bow without
applause.
Tortured by the winds
that had beaten
the beauty right
out of it.
Still it allures me
to stop and stare.
It wants to speak
or sing or something.
Once a sapling
eager to flower in
the deserts sun;
it held a darker story
of harsh torture of
sun and cold with
nothing to nurture
it long enough
to bloom.
Joshua is a strong
name for
a tree that grows
against all odds.
A beauty of his own-
hidden;
looking closer I
see that inner beauty
that could blossom
like you or I.

35 lines