by Nicolette L. Cagle, September 1, 2026
I am exploding, expanding outwards, becoming spacious after a dense contraction. There is space now to see the cold, dark rocks of adverse experiences and Weltschmerz. There is space, too, to see the fiery suns of passion and justice-seeking. There is space to see the myriad planets within, flourishing and full of life. It is a process so intense that I fear my body won’t survive it; so beautiful that I am lit from within.
I finally understand Whitman’s words, penned over 170 years ago: “I contain multitudes.” And I would add: so do you. You are a universe unto yourself. You are contracting and expanding, oscillating and pulsating, changing and evolving. You are bending the rules of space and time like a jazz pianist altering harmonies and crushing notes.
Together, we can create music that is transcendent and soul-shaking. Together, we can remake the world.