Bonus Poem: Coming True

Coming True

When my dream refused to come true,

I stood as if beneath an apple tree

whose blossoms had been scattered

by a sudden snowstorm. And in that

cold grove, knowing I would never

hold the fruits of my labor, I found

that I came true instead. The scouring

wind had revealed all that I loved

but had denied, shriveled white petals

of what was to be now leading me

toward the possible. Listen—I was

still devastated, hungry for the dream

I’d planted as a sapling and tended

for years. But I followed the path laid

out for me, and ended up in a different

orchard, where friends handed me

everything I would need. Not exactly

what I had dreamed, but more than

enough, more than the original vision

ever could have given me.

This week’s bonus poem came to me one morning when I was thinking about how far I’ve come from my dream of being a professor of writing. For years, I tried to force this dream into being, and while the work with young people was rewarding, I was often mistreated by the institutions I served. It became more and more clear that I would have to release this dream in order to live my way into a larger life. Of course, I didn’t know a larger life waited at the time; I had to trust and follow the trail laid out for me. This seems a universal step in the human journey, too, though many of us—myself included—tend to hold on for longer than needed, afraid of taking the leap. It heartens me, in the years since I left academia, to see the abundance and beauty that now surround me—not exactly what I saw for myself, but also more than I could ever have imagined. I’ve now learned to ask myself this perennial question: What dream is calling me to release it, so that I might step into a larger vision?

I hope you’ll consider joining me for this upcoming poetry retreat (via Zoom webinar) that I will be offering on five Fridays from 1-2:30 pm ET, starting on October 16th (all sessions recorded and shared). This promises to be a celebration of poetry, heart, and spirit at a time when we desperately need to keep in touch with the sacred. We have a limited number of half-off scholarships, so please message if you need one of those to attend (and don’t be shy). I am in awe of each of these special guests, and know you too will be bowled over by their wisdom and presence in these difficult times.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1998353804022?aff=oddtdtcreator

Photo credit: by Artur Łuczka on Unsplash