Roots and Sky
Where Heritage Grounds the Heart and Dreams Lift the Spirit
In the silent embrace of the earth,
where the soil cradles
the sounds of my ancestors,
I find my roots,
tangled yet strong,
buried deep in the lore of family gatherings,
the aroma of traditional feasts,
laughter woven into the fabric of time.
From the roots rise tendrils of memory,
each one a story,
each twist a journey,
reminding me
I am meant to stay,
to honor the impact of those who came before,
their lessons like sunlight filtered,
sustaining my spirit
in the cool shade of uncertainty.
Yet, above,
the branches stretch,
curving toward the infinite sky,
their arms reaching out for dreams,
for the winds of change that beckon,
calling me to grow beyond what I know,
to dance in the storm,
to unfurl in the light,
and break the boundaries of yesterday.
I am both, ground and sky,
the anchor of heritage,
the wind in my leaves,
as I balance on the edge
of the present and the possible,
rooted in love,
nurtured by hope,
unfolding into a future
liquid with promise,
where every seed, every branch,
knows the power of both worlds.
In this sacred tension,
the pulse of the earth and sky entwine,
teaching me
that to grow is to honor,
and to ground is to reach,
ever forward,
ever back,
a seamless journey
between roots and branches.
About the Creator
Tim Carmichael
Tim is an Appalachian poet and cookbook author. He writes about rural life, family, and the places he grew up around. His poetry and essays have appeared in Bloodroot and Coal Dust, his latest book.
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Comments (3)
Love how seamlessly this flows through time and generations, Tim. It is both elegiac and celebratory. Wonderful entry to the challenge. Good luck!
Breathtaking! Bravo Tim! 🫶🏾💪🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
You wrote this so beautifully. Every word is so perfectly placed to turn this into an emotional powerhouse of philosophy, growth, and movement.