That is a good question! I think it must have been on my mind because I’ve been talking to a friend who knows a lot about gardening, about helping me get a vegetable garden, started in my yard.
Now my turn to enjoy your beautiful encouragement of a young creation.
I love the way the repetition of “seedling buried deep so long ago” builds the dialogue and compassion in the context of a legend or an epic. It’s lovely.
Thank you A. I am not quite sure how this poem unfolded. I started in a compleely different place, thinking about gardens; but from my second floor office I heard the children from the school below playing outside, saw the trees across the way in their various stages of coming to life, and thought of the children, my chilren and grandchildren, the children in Sudan and Ukraine, in Texas, Buffalo, Florida and every town, and how we are nurturing them with the destruction we create. The late poet/songwriter John Trudel says it so powerfully and poignantly in a poem and song called "How Does Tomorrow Dream." The garden poem will hae to wait until tomorrow! Thank you!
Wow, this one is powerful, Larry. THANK YOU for bringing this.
I love so many things about it. The metaphors. The specific descriptions. The rhythm. Your attentiveness. Your sadness. Your resilient love.
“Blooming in hope for a future that is possible.” “Stunning as a dogwood.” And especially: “will they know we did the best we could? Or that when we failed we were simply too afraid.”
Thank you for your wonderful comments Jillian. They touch my heart and are so special! Thank you for being such a wonderful and affirming presence here.
Seed-leaves spreading like tiny hearts end to end;
i imagine you tall and strong, sweet-bitter leaves of kale;
but first i must disentangle you,
give you room to breathe,
cut you loose from your home and try to help you thrive elsewhere;
please forgive me for this disruption;
i only want you to bloom.
“Tiny hearts end to end” “try to help you thrive elsewhere” This is so precious 💗 Such respect, such love. Thank you for sharing this moment with us.
So tiny
So fragile
So delicate
Signs of life beginning
Signs of hope sprouting
A promise of the future
seedling, God’s green hope
leaves unfurling, bursting forth
an act of great trust
An act of great trust indeed :) Thank you for noticing that! Beautiful.
Seedling
A little bundle of life
Spreading its elbows above the dirt
Aiming for the sun
I love the imagery of seedling elbows
Elbows.....🙂
I will thirdly echo enjoying the seedling elbows 😊💗
A bit of green peeks
through the soil, tiny tendrils
slowly unfurling,
stretching, reaching for
the sun, calm and unhurried;
a lesson, a gift.
Beautiful. So refreshing and clear.
I originally saw “green peeks” as “green peaks” and whether intentional or not, I love the juxtaposition of such an image as a honoring of growth.
Thank you! It was a happy accident.
a lesson and gift, indeed.
a tiny seedling
holds vulnerability
no life without them
Love this One Bob
I remember drawing the root pushing
down down into the soil --
observing subterranean growth in
seventh grade science.
Thinning the rows of beets and carrots,
I lament the loss of potential --
lightly touching my stomach where
life briefly grew.
Those last few lines - they're exactly how I felt grieving my miscarriage. Thank you for putting them into words.
Thank you for sharing such a tender experience.
This is beauitful April. Those last two lines caught me deep. Thank you for your sharing of your marvelous gifts.
You have such a gift for capturing such singular poignant moments with clarity and precision. I really enjoy your poems. Thank you, April!
I really appreciate your kind words!
how come most things seem to start so
meek. puny. crushable. sinless.
& who decides when to drop the '-ling' ?
You are so tiny,
Yet so full of potential.
You quiver with excitement,
Ready to burst forth from your hull.
Will someone pick you,
To be planted into fertile soil?
I wonder what you, the author, are thinking about in answer to your own question you ask :) Are you curious to pick it up?
It’s lovely, Liz!
That is a good question! I think it must have been on my mind because I’ve been talking to a friend who knows a lot about gardening, about helping me get a vegetable garden, started in my yard.
I didn’t see this until now! That’s so wonderful. I hope you have a joyous time developing that garden and reaping its fruits 😊
Seedling becomes plant
Plant blooms in all its glory
Flowers and Fruit shine
Seedling
You are on your way.
You thought you were buried,
but you worked your way up
through the dirt.
Here you are
a little unsteady and
weak in the knees,
but you are standing,
turning your face
to the sun.
Keep going, keep growing.
Soak up the rain.
Dig your roots deep.
Drink in those rays.
You will branch out
and develop
in amazing ways.
You play a vital part
in the mutual work
of the green world.
And we are thankful.
This is wonderful Trish! It has such a wonderful cadence and rhythm. Thankful for your writing, too!
seedling
buried deep
so long ago
planted
with all things
to grow fully
except light
and care
to fully become
who you were
created to be
seedling
buried deep
so long ago
planted in
poor environment
with little attention
and no care
trampled down
and neglected
ignored and cast aside
fear not
seedling
buried deep
so long ago
planted
don't give up hope
a new day dawns
a new community forms
light and love
are on the way
encouragement like water
will help you grow
seedling
buried deep
planted
so long ago
you are infinitely valued
you created for more
than you can even imagine
the world needs you
to fully bloom
to see your potential
to add to its beauty
seedling
buried deep
planted
long ago
you are human
created with dignity
and intention
plus a purpose
that makes the world
a better place
because you are in it
Now my turn to enjoy your beautiful encouragement of a young creation.
I love the way the repetition of “seedling buried deep so long ago” builds the dialogue and compassion in the context of a legend or an epic. It’s lovely.
Another fine poem Steven! I like the way you wind us through gain and loss and ground us back into hope. Well done!
Thank you much.
Embodied potency
Ancient knowing, with
Ample possibility
Capacious liminality
No longer seed, but
Not yet tree
Radical vulnerability
Embryonic roots, then
Downy shoots
Tender seedling
There are no guarantees, and
We keep living and loving
"Embryonic roots, then
Downy shoots"
So rich, vivid, gentle, dynamic.
thank you.
“There are no guarantees, and we keep living and loving” 💗 We always have a time and place for love! Beautiful.
I love this Sara! "Radical Vulnerability" What a splendid phrase! Your writing touches my heart.
Bright blue sky day,
warmth of spring creeping in,
light shines through my window
as the children gather for lunch below,
ready to embrace the songs of the day.
Seedlings in human form,
grown from seeds planted intentionally or not
blooming in hope for a future that is possible.
I wonder.
How will they grow?
How will we tend and nurture them?
Will we treat them better than the trees?
Or the same? Or worse?
Will they be as resilient as the oak?
As flexible as the magnolia?
As stunning as a dogwood?
As winsome as the willow?
Will they look at us and weep,
as their kindreds are cut down,
clear cut in the horrors of our times.
In their growing,
will they look at us with love.
With hope? With understanding?
Will they know we did the best we could?
Or that when we failed
we were simply too afraid.
This one gave me chills. Powerful words.
Thank you Karri. I enjoy your writing.
I feel such bittersweetness from these lines.
I don't know what to say about this except that it makes my heart ache, and I'm grateful.
Thank you A. I am not quite sure how this poem unfolded. I started in a compleely different place, thinking about gardens; but from my second floor office I heard the children from the school below playing outside, saw the trees across the way in their various stages of coming to life, and thought of the children, my chilren and grandchildren, the children in Sudan and Ukraine, in Texas, Buffalo, Florida and every town, and how we are nurturing them with the destruction we create. The late poet/songwriter John Trudel says it so powerfully and poignantly in a poem and song called "How Does Tomorrow Dream." The garden poem will hae to wait until tomorrow! Thank you!
Wow, this one is powerful, Larry. THANK YOU for bringing this.
I love so many things about it. The metaphors. The specific descriptions. The rhythm. Your attentiveness. Your sadness. Your resilient love.
“Blooming in hope for a future that is possible.” “Stunning as a dogwood.” And especially: “will they know we did the best we could? Or that when we failed we were simply too afraid.”
This is so important. Please don’t stop 💗
Thank you for your wonderful comments Jillian. They touch my heart and are so special! Thank you for being such a wonderful and affirming presence here.
You’re so welcome :) It’s my pleasure to share this space with you.
The Seedling
It never ceases to amaze me
That a seed placed into the soil
And given sunlight and water
Will sprout and flourish and grow
Into whatever it is meant to be.
Karri Temple Brackett
May 10. 2023
ceaseless amazement.
our deepest invitation and yearning
Take no creation, moment, or process for granted, and wait to be amazed always 😊💗 Your openness here is beautiful, Karri.
Seedling
A spark
Blushing darkness in the
Void starting somewhere
Nowhere until it begins to
Crunch forward restless as
The dawn’s eye in a crouching
Tiger spit fire doesn’t even sound
The same doesn’t even play
The same jibber jabber rags to
Riches princess in the ruins
Edge edgy until you love it
Until it seduces you just like
All the others who hold onto
Their kites and sent them
Soaring golden with the eagle who
Peers with golden eye wisdom and
Elegance that always let them
Finish it explosively writing
Banners on the tall
Wall that proclaim your
Fire
I love this gem of a poem!
Thank you so much, Larry! 💗