Featured Illustration: Sebastian Biggeri

You’d rather plant roots

Than search for them

What are trees made of

Whatever you cannot deny 

Is it the immigrant experience

Or just experience 

Do I trivialize it by wondering if it’s just another way to soul-search

This is a process

You are the process

Henna like lace over your wrists

Peeking out from under your scrubs

From your lab coat

Your graduation gown

Your leather gloves

Your fatigues

This is your coat of arms

This is your Declaration of Independence 

It’s an experience

It’s the experience, because it’s yours

And here you are now

The scientist

The poet

The seeker

Ready to begin.