Listen.
There is a soft beat inside you—
the sound you so often interpreted
as the footsteps of those who have run away,
echoing,
imprinted on your soul.
But listen closer,
because this is the beat of your heart,
and it is here to stay.
Step outside, because the shivering breeze
blowing your hair is wind,
not the cold rush of an unfeeling sky—
such a thing does not exist.
The wind simply wishes
for you to listen to the song it plays in the trees,
and when it pierces and waters your eyes,
it is encouraging you to cry
after so long of striving to be strong.
I can see wildflowers growing
from the lines in your notebook
and the scars on your heart,
budding wider with every poem you write.
Hearts are drawn to you, and hands
reach out to touch you,
plucking you from the earth
before they realize the depth of your roots.
You are an ocean
deeper than most are willing to venture,
and a forest
coated with more colors than they know how to paint with.
They stay away from what they cannot understand.
This is why they fear you.
I know that you don’t often
even understand yourself
(but there are few who do).
Brushes in hand, you speak the artist’s language
and you fathom what you can paint.
But watercolors run dry when faced with your soul,
and you are left paralyzed,
confined to a mind that confuses you.
I know that you often feel so much
that you forget you are even feeling,
but this is not the burden you believe it to be.
Please believe me
believe me
when I say that the wildflowers in your heart
are worth the ache they take to grow.
There is no comparison that I could place
beside the world,
because there is nothing like it.
I’ve felt sunlight fade, I’ve watched fires die—
but this darkness is what is needed
for your seeds to sprout.
I know there is hurt
that bandages and poetry cannot fix,
and there is little I can say
that will do anything more.
But let me tell you this:
You are fields of sunflowers
and then some,
and you must not let this world
press your petals into its capturing scrapbooks.
Dear wildflower friend,
I hope the heartache eases soon.
But however long it decides to stay,
you have me.
When you feel yourself slipping through your fingers,
I will be holding your hand
and catching every last piece.
And when I have given them back to you
and you cannot remember the way they once were,
remember this:
You have yet to meet all of you.
Be terrifyingly enchanted by this thought.
Cindy Green is a forest-wandering, poetry-scribbling stargazer with messy notebooks and messy thoughts. Despite her love for all of God’s creation, sunflowers and stars in particular have a way of sneaking into both her writing and her heart (but you won’t hear her complaining about it). She is an amateur sword-wielder with a Highland-dancing warrior spirit who also writes letters to the moon and considers the sky her best friend. A focused daydreamer, organized pack rat, and oblivious observer, she is a self-professing ambivert (or a living contradiction) who deeply feels both the beauty and fallen state of the world. Through her words, she hopes to describe the indescribable and form personal connections with people while reflecting a love for her Savior and a passion for everything she touches.
Cindy, oh Cindy. Every time I read this I feel like crying. It’s beautiful. You’re beautiful. I’m so grateful for your friendship my dear, I definitely don’t deserve it. I love you, girly. ❤️
I’m so grateful for your friendship as well, my dear one ❤ And the poetry won’t stop coming until you believe it too. I love you more, Christi girl 🙂
This is beautiful.
Thank you! 🙂
Wow. That was absolutely stunning! Thank you so much for sharing this gem!!
So glad you enjoyed it, Coralie 🙂
I thought this was a neat portrayal of feelings and times we all have to go through. I sincerely enjoyed journeying through with your flowing descriptions. What inspired you to write this, may I ask?
Oh, I love when people ask thoughtful questions like this! 🙂 I have several friends going through tough times right now (though I had one friend specifically in mind), and I wanted to write a letter to them. I’ve always been intrigued by the idea of open letters, and poetry is my favourite way to express emotion, so I decided to combine the two.
Cindy, this letter is truly a work of art. ❤️ Keep on writing and sharing your letters of kindness with the world.
Mariposa ❤ Thank you, lovely girl. And thank you so much for the incredibly beautiful graphic! It’s by far my favourite. 🙂 🙂
Wow. Thank you for writing this. It’s so powerful, so deep, so…real. I love how caring you are dear, and it feels so personal and sweet. I needed this today.
*mails a hug* This meant so much, lovely YDubber friend 🙂
This is so, so beautiful. It speaks to my heart. <3 Thank you for sharing it!
Thank you, Rachel! I’m so glad it touched you. 🙂
Beautiful.
Simply beautiful.
Thanks for the smile 🙂 🙂
Almost cried at the third stanza.
This is phenomenal.
*bookmarks to look at anytime I feel sad*
You’re not alone – I cried while writing it. I’m honoured that something so special to me touched you as well 🙂
“You have yet to meet all of you.” Truly blown away by this poem, no pun intended. What a beautiful use of language to convey such redemptive human qualities. Keep doing what you’re doing, poetry buddy. 🙂
Yours is the hardest comment to respond to – by far because it’s my absolute favourite. 🙂 Thank you, poetry buddy!
As was said before. BEAUTIFUL Poem!!!!! We are all made in God’s image and therefore, mustn’t look at ourselves like we are dust but like we are a firework (as long as it is in awe of the Creator and not the created). 😀 (Rambling that I got from reading the great poem).
If anyone is having a hard time, He will get you through it. I promise, ‘kay? 🙂
But what a beautiful and true rambling it was 😀 Thank you for sharing your golden light!
I LOVE your poetry, Cindy! Your imagery in this poem is absolute perfection. Bravo!
Thank you so much, Emma! You’re too sweet. 🙂
Wow. Truly beautiful.
Thanks for reading! 🙂
*swallows* Wow… I don’t even know what to say to that. Honestly I really needed this right now. Thank you for sharing. It’s beautiful in a whole deeper meaning of the word.
*hugs you tight* You’re going to make me cry. 😀
Thank you for showing me that I’m not the only one that feels things so deeply that neither I nor others understand. It is easy for me to feel alone, and you have just lifted the burden of loneliness from my shoulders.
Oh <3 This touched my heart like nothing else. Thank you so much for sharing that. I will keep you in my prayers.
Hey, Cindy.
I’m quite a bit late to the game, aren’t I? The thing is, I read this poem back when it was released, but I didn’t have an account then, so I couldn’t really comment.
I just wanted to return to this and let you know just how much this poem means to me. When I read it for the first time, it affected me so deeply that I copied it and pasted it to my phone’s Notes section. For months, I have gone back and read it whenever I feel down or lonely. It’s made me cry many times, but also made me smile, and warmed my heart greatly. It’s comforting and beautiful and has this amazing sense of honesty that connects so well with the reader. Thank you so much for writing and sharing it.
You’re never too late to be an encouragement! I can’t tell you how much your comment means to me. I’m feeling tears in my eyes.
I don’t know you, but you’re an Ember – and that makes you family. I’m going to add you to my prayer list. Be kind to yourself, okay? 🙂