“Standing Strong”

This art piece honors the cactus as a sacred symbol of resilience, standing unyielding through heat, wind, and time. Rooted in Native tradition, it reflects the strength and spirit of the desert— offering shelter, endurance, and the quiet wisdom of survival.

STANDING STRONG

In the desert, hot and wide,
Stands a cactus, arms held high.
Winds may blow and sun may burn,
Still it waits for rain’s return.

Standing strong, standing tall,
Doesn’t move, but feels it all.
Shallow roots, thirsty ground,
Hears the sky, when storms come ’round.
Standing strong, standing still—
Desert heart and desert will.

Summer sun can blaze all day,
Winter winds will whip and sway.
But the cactus doesn’t bend—
It’s a warrior to the end.

Standing strong, standing tall,
Doesn’t move, but feels it all.
Shallow roots, thirsty ground,
Hears the sky, when storms come ’round.
Standing strong, standing still—
Desert heart and desert will.

Birds come near, make a nest,
In its arms, they find their rest.
Spirit plant of earth and sky,
Watched by eagles flying high.