Here, I made this, for you

Illustration by author

Don’t you know yet? Fling the emptiness out of your arms into the spaces we breathe; perhaps the birds will feel the expanded air with more passionate flying. — Rilke, First Elegy

What do I have to give?

What can I contribute?

If I create something beautiful, and no one sees, does it count?

Like a tree that falls in the woods,

If no one is around to read, to hear, to see. . .

To clap, to like. . .

Do I make a sound?

Maybe, I think there is light and dark in the world

And maybe, darkness roars

And maybe

The best creations

Will not simply rise to the top

Supernaturally.

Maybe they need not one shove

But a million nudges.

Drip by drip,

Day by day,

Creation by creation,

Share by share,

Here, I made this

Here, I made this

Time plus consistency

Equals trust.

Trust creates