‘Rooted and Reaching’

her face,

unsure who she really is-yet her breath stretches upward like sap in early spring

how does a tree

belong to two directions at once?

rooting down into shadow, reaching up toward light-and both called holy…

some days I feel too human

to hold such contradiction!

though herelam-right here, in the middle

Medium | Oil on linen

Features | 4×12″ with antiqued gold gilding (custom framing options available)

Artist’s Note

This painting hit me in an itchy specific way, but I couldn’t quite grasp it until putting poem + painting together.
Somewhere between rooted and reaching, unsure of who I am, trying to grow into something whole. Like… what does this tree wisdom mean? ‘Becoming’ while in the messy middle? Does this mean I’m different now? Or just extra tired? Who knows. All I know is, it’s hard to hold the heavy things and stretch in hope, reaching upwards.
Feeling like it’s too much. Too human. But apparently, this middle is where it’s at. And even if it’s awkward and messy and uncomfortable, it doesn’t mean I’m doing it wrong. It just means I’m in it. And I think that counts for something? So if you’re also out here mid-threshold, figuring out how to root and rise at the same time, hi—me too.
You’re not broken. You’re becoming.
And that’s enough.