Mar 4
In shadowed hollows where sunrays belay,
There I live—a seedless form that's clinging.
No scent embellishes my cold display.
Though in quietude, my soul's still singing.
My deep yearning in this gentle despair;
To bloom like a wild and fragrant flower,
To feel the sun's kiss and the placid air,
And bask in nature's resplendent shower.
Still, my fragile hope serenely abides.
My dream lies unfulfilled and diffident.
Yet in the dark, a strength within me strides
Unseen, while the world's deeply quiescent.
Perhaps this shadow keeps me all unique;
A fern that's unlike other plants they know.
My remnant soul thrives vibrant and unbleak:
I'm a cryptogam, stemless yet I grow.
There I live—a seedless form that's clinging.
No scent embellishes my cold display.
Though in quietude, my soul's still singing.
My deep yearning in this gentle despair;
To bloom like a wild and fragrant flower,
To feel the sun's kiss and the placid air,
And bask in nature's resplendent shower.
Still, my fragile hope serenely abides.
My dream lies unfulfilled and diffident.
Yet in the dark, a strength within me strides
Unseen, while the world's deeply quiescent.
Perhaps this shadow keeps me all unique;
A fern that's unlike other plants they know.
My remnant soul thrives vibrant and unbleak:
I'm a cryptogam, stemless yet I grow.
The poem 'Cryptogam' was composed from 29th December of 2024 to 9th January of 2025. Its creation stemmed from my personal reflections on navigating societal standards as a nearsighted individual and a member of the LGBTQ+ community. The central metaphor of the cryptogam symbolizes the hidden strength and resilience inherent in unique identities. The experiences of insecurity and the struggle for self-acceptance provided the impetus for this work. The poem aims to offer solace and encouragement to those individuals who feel different and unnoticed by the world.
