Consider the Wildflowers

Here is the result of my “found poetry” exercise. The italicized words are from my friends and family. Enjoy!

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I never asked for a perfect garden,

So why would I pretend that mine is so?

I never expected my flowers to be perfectly aligned–

I never expected them all to grow.

But I put my soul into the little garden

I was given.

I chose to see the good in the imperfections.

Although it is not perfect, it looks well-loved and lived in.

I never asked for a perfect garden,

I asked for one that would portray my humanness.

I wanted art to reflect life,

To be unafraid of any mistakes–for my courage to be planted in it.

I have always been afraid to take up space.

To speak up, to be a light, to be completely and utterly understood.

So I let my garden grow wild; 

I let it grow out of those tight constraints;

I let it teach me something I never thought it would.

I am glad that I gave up the old me.

Because the old me asked for a perfect garden.

But the new me has a different perspective on life.

My imperfect garden will give me new eyes.

It will strengthen me and show me

That I am brave enough to step further than just the prologue of my life.