11 Comments
User's avatar
Nancy Bartelt's avatar

Wow, Riley- thank you so much for sharing both your achingly beautiful poem and your tender words about it. Your earthy honesty stirs layers within me, too.

Riley Morsman's avatar

I am so glad to hear it touched you, Nancy. Thank you for reading!

Abigail's avatar

So beautiful and hopeful, Riley. I love how the faithful turning of the seasons and the tides become personal declarations of forward momentum. We are not stuck. I will be coming back to this one.

Riley Morsman's avatar

God is so generous to give us so many pictures of His faithfulness in the world around us. The seasons are such an immeasurable gift! And yes—we are not stuck! 🤍

Claire Adderholt's avatar

Riley, I'm pretty sure this is the best of your poems I've read - every line has a payoff, it's taut and singing and potent. I love it. Such good work.

also - I got off AD almost a year ago and am so happy I did

Riley Morsman's avatar

Oh, Claire! That means so much, especially coming from YOU! Thank you for reading it so thoughtfully. And congratulations on your freedom from antidepressants as well! Thankful for you, friend. 🤍

AJ Harbison's avatar

Love this one! I love how unexpected "bloom" is and yet somehow it works so well connoting blowing breath into lungs in almost an onomatopoeic way. Beautiful!

Riley Morsman's avatar

Thank you so much for such a generous and thoughtful reading of my poem, AJ! "Bloom" is such a rich word. I love your connection to it actually sounding like breath.

Aly Prades's avatar

Beautiful poem of hope, Riley. Congrats on no-Prozac anniversary. I am in a similar boat of celebrating being on the other side of mental health challenges and also wanting to remember how harrowing it was, to give thanks for where I am now.

Riley Morsman's avatar

Thank you, Aly! Yes—gratitude is key. And the reminder that we didn't pull ourselves out of the pit but were graciously rescued!

Rosa Lía Gilbert's avatar

BEAUTIFUL! Thank you for sharing vulnerably my friend… and for writing such a stunning piece.