Seen as an ornament of beauty, but suffocating everything in its path.
Revered for its durability, but no one notices the strangling roots underneath.
They are seen as strong, yet they have to invade to gain their power—
And no one knows what else had to suffer for the stunning flower to gain its numbers.
It stands tall no matter the depths of the water,
But no one realizes that it completely obstructs the shimmering pond from view.
Rebecca Malachowski has been writing poetry since she was 14 years old and has found it to be one of the main comforts and constants throughout her life.