Planted Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

I am who I am.
And from a seed planted,
In an environment...
I grew to love.
Comprehend and understand.
With rudiments of life taught early.
To know them to learn,
Never to forget.
Or decide them useless to dismiss.

I learned ignorance was not a given.
Nor a birthmark to accept.
I learned responsibility,
Was not a choice for me.
But a duty to expect.

I learned refusing to be foolish,
May separate me from the rest.
Yet...
Respect to keep and show to others,
Will be the main remembered lesson
That achieves success.

And one's environment to reminisce,
Without regretting the experience...
Will be revisited often,
As the true ingredient needed...
Planted to feed the desire,
To reach and climb to heights.
Even after the doing of it,
Leaves one to crave...
More.
Until one's appetite is satisfied.
And that seldom happens.