Roots That Refuse to Die
A poetic reflection on surviving seasons of neglect and trusting that nourishment will come.
Each spring, I purchase perennials to adorn my porch. The bright, vibrant colors bring me so much joy and a cozy ambiance for early morning journaling.
This year, during a week-long vacation in the middle of a 90-degree heatwave, I lost hope that I would get to experience my flowers throughout the summer. With no one to water them, I arrived home to see my flowers dried up and brown, looking completely dead.
I nearly gave up on having a colorful porch until several days of rain arrived. To my surprise, after the rain, I noticed new blooms on plants I thought were gone!
Somehow, their roots had not only remained alive but also brought forth new growth and life.
Sometimes I feel, like my sweet plants, in desperate need of rain, made with certain needs the universe refuses to supply– at least not on my timeline.
Yet, perhaps there’s more hope than I can see. The rain will come, and my roots will remain strong.
This poem offers a glimpse of my heart in the liminal space between shadow and light, when my roots seem invisible.
If you, like me, feel like this little sapling, made for light, yet kept in the shadows, may the rawness of this poem help you feel a little less alone and encouraged to wait a little longer for your break.
Roots That Refuse to Die
A seed lands
on the moist forest floor,
rich for growth.
Gradually, it unfolds
and begins to grow–
but one essential element
it lacks.
Crowded out by surrounding trees,
the sapling can’t reach the sun’s rays.
Stretch and bend as she may,
she never finds the light
and withers in the shadows.
Why would the universe
play such a cruel trick on
that precious tree?
Survival of the fittest?
Some of us aren’t meant for the battle.
Our softness wasn’t built for war.
So we fade away–
unnourished.
Or so we think.
Deep down,
under the surface,
our roots hold fast,
keeping us alive
while waiting for a break in the canopy
and access to the sun.
Journaling Prompt:
I write to heal.
Early in my healing journey, my journal accompanied me everywhere I went so I could hear and process my thoughts as I put pen to paper. Often, those writings came through various writing prompts. To pay it forward, I offer you a journal prompt with each post so you can join me in discovering your inner hero through writing.
If writing to heal resonates with you, consider using the following prompt to direct your writing.
Here are your prompts:
The part of me that feels least nourished right now is….
I can begin to provide myself with what I need by…..
I live in the shadows of….
I reach for the light by…
As I wait for my break, I…
My first poetry memoir, Barely a Whisper: poems from the heart of a woman re-becoming is available now!
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