This was one of my first poems. It was in the Amethyst Review in February 2021 and I’ve since edited it a few times. I remember sharing it on twitter the first time I participated in #TopTweetTuesday on March 12, 2024. That was a memorable experience — I met some lovely people who’ve since become poetry friends.
The theme for that week was sanctuary, and when I posted my poem, I said: “I’m wondering if sanctuary is something we find, or something we create.”
And it is probably both.
That week, we were also supposed to choose an unusual color word to include in our poem, so I remember adding the word ‘eminence’ (a shade of purple).
The fourth stanza was always meant to be a bit of a koan. I think life is about reaching and growing and transcending limitations, but I know that growth also happens by integrating our lived experiences, including past failures, as well as shared experiences, and by accepting the things we can’t change.
First published in Amethyst Review, February 2021
