Why Do You Do It?

A lenten rose (hellebore) bush. I took this photo during a morning walk. The flowers are usually downward-facing, but this one blossom was facing right at me.

Why do you do it, little one?
Why do you look me full in the face,
with joy and expectation,
when everyone around you is downcast?
After all,
You don't know me.
I could trample you
for no reason other than
my pleasure.
Or,
I could pluck you,
put you in a vase and display you like treasure,
then toss you when you wilt.
Not that I'm going to do any of those things.
But someone else could.
And there you'd be,
looking at them with that same
open-faced wonder.

Do you know something I don't?
I'm thinking you must.
Or,
Maybe you just happen to believe
what the rest of us should.