Bloom

photo by arantxa villa

Bloom 

second-year claire d’agostino

To the flower who never flourishes, 

Do you ever look around in the place where you are planted?

Admiring the lush, green garden dotted with colorful petals and plants pollinated with life

Or perhaps it is simply a clear, empty vase you are trapped inside

In which you fear that you may shrivel up and die… 

The tulips of the garden bloom to their fullest potential

For it is the height of spring and they bathe in the sunshine all day

One in particular admires the roses inside that beautifully adorn the table

Why do they mock me? thought the tulip 

For their only purpose is to be admired whilst I guide the other plants on how to grow

The tulip dreamily remembered how the man bought the roses for his lover 

 It determined it would rather have beauty than purpose 

My beauty is only temporary, thought the rose withering away inside

How could anyone want to live like me?

But the florist had spent so much time positioning my petals and carefully avoiding my thorns

How could I quit now when so much time has been dedicated to my growth?

Though the rose longed to be outside and flourishing like the delicate tulips,

Perhaps its purpose was only to embellish the space for a short time

And then to wither away and die

Although both flowers had everything they ever dreamed of,

They were unhappy with the environment in which they grew

Their jealousy ate away at their spirit inside

And slowly, their beauty too began to fade 

My dear flowers, why are you discouraged that your petals fall far from you?

They brown and they wilt

And as they fall far, far to the ground, they mock you

You know deep inside that this soil, this vase, is not meant for you…

How could we leave the only place we have ever grown?

All of the time the gardner spent nourishing the tulip’s growth

And the thought the florist used to handpick the perfect rose

Was all of that effort going to waste? 

Stand a little taller, Flowers

Then, you will stand out amongst the rest

You will be chosen to grow in the place in which you yearn to be 

Whether you are a rose, a tulip, a chrysanthemum, or even a weed

Flowers of all kinds I urge you:

Find the soil in which you flourish

And allow yourself the room you need in order to grow

Lest you remain unhappy in the place which you were planted