Ending caught me off guard. Thanks for sharing.

"A sense of admiration for a foe" is precisely what I was trying to convey. Thank you for the articulation, David. Isurugi

Thank you all. I see what you are saying Jemima and I like it too. But I think it would take away from it as well. If someone is not going against you, then there is nothing (or not very much) impressive about the fact that you are rooting for them. Don't you agree? Isurugi

lovely Isurugi but if you'll pardon me I think the first line would have kicked the haiku off much better had it read
'Try growing with me' and that would have nicely connected it to the word 'root' Thank you. Jemima.

Clever and funny. I liked it.