Wait for It
by Sarah Steele
Color Before the Bloom, Sarah Steele, Nikon D90, Nikkor 50 mm lens, manual
WAIT FOR IT
I planted a seed, and
when only a plain green stem arose,
all fuzzy and delighted at
first signs of life,
I cut it down
(it was not what I was looking for)
and planted a new seed,
after which, a fresh leafy stalk
came springing up again—
pure joy at breathing above the dirt.
So I dug out the heart of its root
(it had to be done),
including all its exuberant bounce,
and awaited the beautiful flower’s arrival
that would surely come this time.
You’ll never believe what emerged
(unless you claim greater floral intellect than I),
because assuredly, that darn, green, hairy plant
came shooting up out of the earth,
bursting with all its dull, non-flowering life.
All summer long,
I dug; it sprang.
I cut; it grew,
until finally, I dusted off my field guide
to study this wretched plant.
You’ll never believe what I read there
(unless you assume greater expertise on asters than I).
You see, they start as tall, obnoxious, gangly, furry, leafy, green stalks, and
it isn’t until fall that they bloom.
You just have to wait for it.
Searching for Sustenance, Jaeda Steele, Nikon D90, Nikkor 50 mm lens, manual
Face Toward the Sun, Sarah Steele, Nikon D90, Nikkor 50 mm lens, manual
SARAH STEELE
Sarah Steele is a spoken word performer with a knack for turning emotions into performances that make you laugh, cry, or question your life choices. Her poetry memoir, An Ocean Without, became an Amazon #1 Top New Release, proving she can turn complex ideas into relatable experiences—and, occasionally, into impulse buys. Sarah has written for many publications and serves as an editor for The Way Back to Ourselves. When she’s not writing or performing, she can be found wielding her teacher’s hat over students of all ages—including her four spirited redheads, who ensure her life in Michigan is anything but boring. Subscribe to her monthly newsletter at her website: bysarahsteele.com.