the seed
nestled in the safety
of the soil
enveloped by pressure
looks upward and hopes to grow

slowly
inching
further
the seed charts its course
each step
feeling the weight of earth
pressing downward

as it breaks
the green exposed
the world pushes back
"am i not supposed to see the surface?"
the seedling asks itself
confused and shamed
shunned
it retreats

it tries again
asking forgiveness for its persistence
minimizing its existence
struggling to fit into cracks already exposed
rather than forge them anew

slithering through
the path forces it farther away
it reaches the top
but here there's no sun

angry
the seedling wonders why
she must say sorry in order to grow
and that her dreams are cause for apologies