I wrote this poem because courage has been a constant part of my journey as a person seeking sanctuary. It was inspired by my own experiences and the resilience of many refugees who continue to hope, rebuild, and move forward despite challenges. Refugee Week is important to me because it celebrates our stories, strength, and shared humanity.

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The Courage to Bloom by Bridget

I did not arrive here empty.

I came carrying storms.
Carrying memories folded inside my chest
Like letters too painful to read aloud.

I came with the weight of survival
Resting heavily upon my shoulders,
Yet somehow
My spirit still refused to die.

Tell me,
What do you call a soul
That has been broken a thousand times
But still chooses tenderness?

What do you call hands
That tremble with fear
Yet continue to build hope anyway?

I call that courage.

Not the courage that shouts for attention,
But the kind that whispers,
“Try again tomorrow.”

The courage to begin again
When life has taken almost everything.

The courage to smile
While healing in places nobody can see.