The Seed and Other Poems

by Kim Butler

THE SEED

Stuck. 

Buried and left for dead

under the weight of expectation.

The stench suffocating. 

Longing to escape, I feel the earth pressing in, 

darkness killing me slowly. 

Anger is boiling, 

confusion confounding, 

faint cries beg to be released. 

There is 

so 

little

air.

Finally, in desperation,

I let go. I break 

and breakthrough. 

The shell that held me no longer fits. 

I see a faint light through the surface;

roots begin to take hold of the ground. 

The soil that pressed

in now offers a foundation for the future.

The ground cracks open, and I am free.

Free to grow deep and wide,

to multiply, and to offer

my breath.

THE GARDENER

Pressing 

the seed into the ground

to offer nourishment and a fertile place to grow. 

Dust to dust. 

Beauty buried to be raised

back to life. 

I am 

present, but out of reach. 

Unseen, yet I see it all.

I see you.

Faith must hold you now. 

My provision and my promise will fall like rain

mixed with our tears. 

I see the not yet, and it is worth the now.

Trust me. I will set you free. 

Refined,

renewed,

awake 

to all you were created to be.

You will be clothed just as I promised the lilies. 

You have place and purpose. 

All you have to offer is already in you. 

Do not fear. Release—

the light is just above the surface,

a cloud of witnesses is cheering you on.

KIM BUTLER

Kim writes poems to meet you where you are and remind you that you are not alone. For years, she has been a coach to creatives and is now learning to own the creative within herself. Through a series of unexpected events, she stumbled into writing poetry, and it captured her heart.

When she is not at work or writing, you can find her at Chick-fil-a, a Braves game, or spending time with her family and friends. She loves Jesus, people, and Diet Dr. Pepper.

Instagram: @kim.d.butler

Substack: https://kimdbutler.substack.com