DRAGONFLY by Mary McManus

Two weeks ago I was struggling with writing my memoir, "Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility."

I was feeling defeated and overwhelmed by the process of writing yet knowing that I have been called to write my memoir so that others will know that there is hope for healing and possibility regardless of all outward appearances and seemingly impossible odds.

I certainly know what seemed to be impossible odds as a survivor of paralytic polio and severe trauma. There was a struggle going on inside of me where I wanted to ditch writing my memoir, and contract, and withdraw from my journey of transformation altogether.

But my Spirit would never let that happen and so, a Dragonfly landed on my arm in that moment of struggle inspiring this poem, with a message that seemed to say: "Keep going!".

Dragonfly

In a moment of confusion

blue and gold totem alighted

stopping her flight to bring me my message

cease struggle and be still

she speaks in wordless sentences

my breath slows

I listen and hear my heart beat

her fragile wings

a reminder

a note to self

be light

delight in your truth

let your true colors shine

out of the waters of rebirth

a breath of fresh air

transformed.

(From the soon to be released A Celebration of Life)

Dragonfly photograph by Lisa Saraswati Cawley

Mary McManus poet, blogger, and yogini left her award winning career as a social worker at the Department of Veterans Affairs in May 2007 to heal her own life. During the dark night of her soul she began to express herself through poetry. Her pen became a divining rod for healing, light, love, hope, possibility, health and wholeness. Her journey of transformation took her to the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and, in 2011, to her yoga mat. Mary holds a BS in Public Relations from Boston University and an MSW from Boston College. In January 2013, Mary graduated South Boston Yoga's 200 hour Body Awakening Teacher Training Program. Be sure to visit her website here and follow her inspirational blog here Mary's books of poetry are available on Amazon here.

~If you are interested in seeing your poetry appear in this blog, or submitting a poem by a woman that has inspired you, please click here for submission guidelines. I greatly look forward to hearing from you!~

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