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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