It maintains its identity by its sheer tenacity

                                                                                      Attribution: Brocken Inaglory

Image: A specimen of the Metrosideros polymorpha (here)

3WW:  notorious toxic fiery

Poetry Jam:  identity - who are you

Poets United:  health

Who are you?

It maintains its identity by its sheer

tenacity producing a brilliant display

of fiery red to yellow flowers

The Metrosideros polymorpha

in all its insistence

Notorious for holding out in all of

its intensity for its very existence

in such trying situations

of toxic lava flows

Yet it grows easily on lave

reputedly the first plant to peep

out of the fertile soil

No small wonder it is sacred to Pele

the volcano goddess in imposing its

presence in plain good health

So, here again, who are you, anyway!

Note: The Metrosideros polymorpha, is a
species of flowering evergreen tree in the
myrtle family found in Hawaii. It produces 

a brilliant display of flowers which can
range from fiery red to yellow. Many native 

Hawaiian traditions refer to the tree as sacred
to Pele, the volcano goddess The trees grow
easily on lava, and are usually the very first 

plants to grow on new lava flows  -  Wiki

For Brian's hosting at Poetry Jam 
Susan's at Poets United's Midweek Motif
Thomg's at 3WW week # 402