"Unnoticed Tour Guides" by Emily Le

The humid air makes my hair frizz up here.

I feel sweat begin to bead on my tan forehead. It drips down the side of my sunkissed cheek under Mother Maui’s unforgivable rays.

The geraniums manage to bud on the edge of the Haleakalā Mountains, their resilience is bound to bring a smile to your face. They are safe as they cling to the rich Earth.

Guiding your path with their bright white petals and centers of magenta that gift color to a monochrome world. Angels in a sea of moss and mud.

Don’t forget to look up!

The beloved blossoms guided you to Wailua Falls.

They want to cool you down as a “thank you” for trusting them.

For your face to feel every sprinkle of the freshwater mist, the cool breeze that will relieve your worries.

They want you to know how perfect it is up here.

Their hard work is complete.

Sophia Molinari

Bright and green, on the apple tree, Hanging by a stem.

Fields and Mountains, all this I can see Beloved nature’s gem.

Helped by Sunshine and pouring Rain, Swaying in the breeze.

The changing of the seasons, all the same Celestial-given ease.

Star light, star bright, through space and time, Playing in the field.

With Clouds up above, higher you must climb

To find the light it wields.

Shining colors seen through the trees, Brilliant red I sing.

I forbode what is to come, I ponder

What will this winter bring?

The cold is here, here for us all, To deliver fate.

So what can we do to resist its call?

This dark cold that we hate.

Cold takes all, the branches are clear, No color to bring.

To the ground I fall for no one to hear

No longer red I sing.

Buried in cold, when will it clear? And, when will I sing?

Now what is there left for me to do here

But wait for the next spring.