The Weed Poem by Nika McGuin

Between two fences
once sprouted a little weed
no one thought much of it
no one looked at it twice

Ignored,
it became a green sapling
growing neck - and - neck
with the height of the fences

Still,
no one thought much of it
no one gave it any second glances
winter might kill it they thought

Besides,
how much longer could it live
sandwiched by two fences
one of metal, one of wood
but live it could - and would

Years passed
and the tree developed
a thick woody trunk
its verdant leaves scraped the sky
and mingled with the clouds

Someday soon,
it will break free
of its constraints
someday soon,
it will leave both fences
bent, warped, obliterated

So you see...
the belief that if you ignore it,
it'll go away - is false
like racism, like domestic abuse
the issue only gets bigger
growing like a weed
unchecked