Bloom, Anyway
A poem by Morgan Harper Nichols
to bloom is not to arrive in an instant,
but to journey
and stretch
toward sunlight
before the morning fully appears,
before clarity settles in,
before anyone notices you—
it is to begin
to rise
to bloom is to feel the
push of upward motion
before knowing what shape
each petal will take,
intimately knowing
the pull of change
even while
the roots still find their place.
to bloom is to start breaking
the surface,
before knowing the kind
of open air you’ll meet,
feeling the weight of the rain,
and everything,
before the soil loosens
and you breathe.
and even then,
to bloom is to know
these small motions
toward sunlight
are still motion,
and these trembling movements
through earth still matter.
through the soil of stretching and release,
pressing, pulling, and constant change
the ground holds even as it shifts
and you will bloom, anyway.
About the author
Morgan Harper Nichols is a multidisciplinary artist, poet, and musician whose work explores themes of connection, resilience, and hope. With a signature style that blends visual art with poetic storytelling, Morgan has cultivated a vast online community drawn to her heartfelt reflections on life’s complexities.
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Guest Post by Morgan Harper Nichols
View blog post on Sackcloth & Ashes Substack.
