Commissioned by Ashland High School in Ashland, Ohio, the work was dedicated to the memory of a beloved student Andrew Prezioso. The lyrics speak to the idea of our own personal journeys and the potential that lies within us--even in times of struggle. For better and worse, the pandemic has taught us things about ourselves, our incredible fragility and resilience. This work is a nod to that journey. The text was inspired by a couple of different sentiments about taking care of ourselves and living in the present moment: "Water your roots so you soul can blosson" - Anonymous; and "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." - Ralph Waldo Emerson.
