My Chaparral Love

My choices and destiny collaborated,

brought me to a foreign land.

I became an immigrant.

But it took me

no time, no effort

to embrace this land

and to love it like I belong here.

I have been a biologist,

the profession helped.

With keen and curious eye.

I wandered,

trying to learn flora and fauna,

their connections.

It was not hard at all,

with genuine passion,

weekends after weekends

across seasons, I went hiking,

with camera in hand

and mind eager to soak it all.

That's chaparral in spring,

green, verdant, fragrant.

I recognized the clay hills were

once marine-bottom,

now covered in native plants - 

oak, chamise, toyon,

laurel sumac, lemonade berry,

manzanita, ceanothus, phacelia,

lupine, wild cucumber, sage,

wild mustard and a lot more.

It was privilege like no other,

I am convinced that the way to

stress-free, purposeful life

is to appreciate flora and fauna,

their roles, and our place.