In February of 2024, we released our fifth Open Call: Using art, letters, stories, and poetry, tell us: how might we create healthy spaces and places for all? The following is a poetry submission we received from this open call.

“As a poet, my inspiration comes from whatever is transpiring in my life. Typically, I’m inspired by emotions, images and life events. This poem was inspired by all these elements. I’ve often been called a warrior. Recently, I’d received my third cancer diagnosis in 23 years and people were telling me that I’m strong and that everything will be okay. At the time of writing, I was feeling emotionally weak and rather pessimistic about the outcome. I sat with those feelings, even though I’m usually like an oak tree..the person people run to when they’re in need. I feel I am in a healthy place because life is all about balance and I’m able to balance strength and weakness in a very healthy way.”

Diana Raab

“Me the Oak Tree”

Sometimes I’m an oak tree

and sometimes I’m a

delicate tulip and other times

I am a wilting rose. what I am

depends on what happens

in my universe—if my loved ones are

okay or if my medical diagnoses

haunt the person I want to become.

I move from one day to the next

like a fluttering butterfly or

like a hummingbird,

hover over my beloveds with wisdoms.

Today, I am all of the above

as I cannot sit still inside who I am

when an uncertain cloud

hangs over me, and I’m unsure

what may lift it.

I want the world to be a better place,

I want to bestow good wishes to those

who need it, I want to be everyone’s oak tree

but also want to also disappear into

a faraway jungle all by myself.

It feels good to dream during

this seventh decade of my life.

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