Rise and hope the water comes in a cleansing wave of here. Receive the upwelling from the depths of these swollen wells we tend and mend, find a weave, hold and cleave me to the rocks under the shining sun, we won each time we were done we were done we won.
I’ve felt such a cacophony of emotions this week. Loss, guilt, gratitude, grief, fear, anxiety, hope.
Reflecting on resilience and the healing process is especially poignant as we face the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and the devastation it has brought to Appalachia. As someone who has always drawn inspiration from nature and the ebb and flow of life, I can't help but think of the mountains—so steady, so strong, and yet subject to the forces of weather, erosion, and time. These mountains, like the people who call Appalachia home, have endured through centuries, standing tall despite the constant push and pull of natural forces.
In times like these, when our communities are battered by forces beyond our control, we must lean into resilience—not as an abstract concept but as a lived experience. Resilience is not about being unscathed or untouched by hardship; rather, it's about recognizing that, even when we feel "done," we are still standing. It’s about embracing the waves of destruction and transformation, trusting that from the depths of these "swollen wells," as I wrote in my poem, something new can rise.
The healing process is not linear; it is messy, full of setbacks, and sometimes we feel as though we are fighting against the tide. But healing also presents us with moments of clarity, like the rocks under the shining sun, reminding us of our roots, our community, and the power of unity. Appalachia, with its deep sense of tradition, community, and connection to the land, embodies this resilience. Each time we mend, we weave ourselves back together stronger, not in spite of the storms but because of them.
As we work to rebuild—not just homes, but lives—we hold onto hope. We must remember that every time we feel like we’re at the end, we are also at the beginning of something new. The spirit of Appalachia is indomitable, and together, we will rise. The victories are found not in avoiding the storms but in how we choose to stand, to hold, and to cleave to one another amidst them.
This is an original, unpublished poem by Hunni Bloom.
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