A Little Push

By Madan Shrestha

Just walking through the city, the usual sounds of traffic and distant voices filling the air. It wasn't a day I expected to find a 'wild' moment, really. The afternoon light was soft, fading, painting the concrete and metal in muted tones. Then, I stopped. Tucked away in a gap, right where a metal fence met the pavement, was this tiny stalk of foxtail grass. It wasn't just growing; it was *pushing* through, a vibrant green against the dull, rusty metal. It caught my eye because it seemed so determined, so out of place, yet perfectly at home in its defiance. I stood there for a while, just watching it. The wind, barely a whisper, made its delicate head sway ever so slightly. No grand landscapes, no rare animals, just this small, persistent life. It made me pause, made me really *see* it, amidst all the rush. It’s funny how these small moments can anchor you. This little plant, finding its light and space in such an unyielding spot, was a quiet reminder. A reminder that life, in all its forms, holds an incredible will to thrive, no matter the obstacles. It just keeps reaching, keeps growing. That's the 'wild aura' I always look for, even here.