Saffron

By Cristina Escardó

I could compare us to glimmering gold,
praise our rose-like beauty,
or worship our angelic hearts,
but I’m not in the business of lying, my love.
Not to you, nor to myself.
We, as humans, are far more akin to saffron.
We are not shining metals
which must be unearthed, polished, and valued.
Nor are we roses
which enchant hearts with delicate beauty.
And we certainly are not godlike beings
who work to tirelessly care for the world.
We are mere weeds, love,
growing in an open field.
Unremarkable in appearance and rarity.
Yet, even so, we are precious.
We, mere weeds of the earth,
a single variety within the many arrays of life,
can become so much more than ourselves.
Through creativity and ingenuity,
We give the world color.
We give life flavor.
And for that, we are beautiful.
Do not envy gold’s value,
for it is the seed of vicious greed.
Do not envy the beauty of the rose,
for it lacks substance and longevity.
And do not envy the angels,
for self-righteousness will lead to ruin.
Instead, rejoice.
For we are saffron petals,
united at the stem,

twirling in the wind
amidst a vast, open field.
Rejoice!
For despite our mundane simplicity,
someone has declared that even we,
mere weeds of the earth,
are precious.

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Biography

My name is Cristina Escardó, and I’m a senior in high school. I’m a Cuban-American artist and poet based in Miami, Florida. My work explores familial relationships, questions of mortality, and my heritage. Outside of class, you can usually find me curled up with my family, a strong cup of Cuban coffee, and my many cats.

What is your main source of inspiration?

My main sources of inspiration when it comes to my poetry are the close relationships I have with my parents and siblings. Being the youngest of a significantly older family, I’ve spent much of my life contemplating my fear of mortality, and I’ve grown to use poetry as an avenue of discovery. I try to cherish those bonds for their ephemeral quality rather than in spite of it. I hope to capture how impactful the love I’ve been given has been, even in such a short amount of time.

What motivated you to write this piece?

“Saffron” was largely inspired by the human desire for reassurance and belonging. Many go through their lives in search of purpose; they seek to distinguish themselves and prove they have lived for a reason. In a way, this poem is dismissing that fear and reaffirming that there is value and purpose in simply loving and being alive. It is alright to be mundane, unremarkable, or otherwise common. Love is what makes humanity so special, and it can transform even the simplest of weeds into a rare treasure. Love, not any material thing or prestigious achievement, gives purpose, meaning, and beauty to life.