Friendship is a gamble that not one alone can play,

for the soil must be fertile for the sun to shine its rays.

But the most vital factor,

is which seed finds its way to the ever-hopeful earth.

The seed will be nourished to grow

to a whispering aspen,

or perhaps a taunting rose bush. 

Each is beautiful in its own way, 

but when the seasons change, 

some won't last.

The warmth will be taken when the cold air calls for a blanket,

and when winter comes,

it is left naked and bare;

it's only companion being the icy snow.

Some will whittle away, 

until all that’s left is a hollow trunk.

Others will stand firm as a pine in the cold of the night.

But no matter the strength of the seedling,

no matter how young or old,

it will always die in the end.