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LUZ MARIA by Salyna Gracie


 As we move through our daily lives we are sometimes given a glimpse into the divine in the most unlikely places…

If we are paying attention, every person we meet is a holy encounter with the Beloved. Humble angels come to us clothed as ordinary people with extraordinary blessings.

This poem is inspired by one such encounter, and the deep sense of gratitude that results from experiencing grace.
Artistic Collage 'Luz Maria' (2012) by the author Salyna Gracie

Luz Maria



In this isolated never-land

Pinned between mountain peak 

And river-bend

A humble angel of mercy

Walks quietly into these woods


Without need of gleaming armor

Or celestial horn

Sacred vestments of soft cotton

And comfortable shoes

Wings unfurled to a warm embrace


She is the light of compassion

Illuminating dark secrets,

Hidden maps and swallowed keys


She is the hand of kindness

Holding the broken heart in her palm

Wiping the tear from crying eye


Each meeting a holy encounter

Even as the last sand grain

Drops to the bottom

Of the two-hour glass

The love flows on

The love always flows on


~
Artwork by Lisbeth Cheever-Gessaman 
Photography by Yuko Ishii 



Salyna Gracie is the director of Red Lotus Dance Company. She performs and teaches Middle Eastern Dance and facilitates the Red Lotus SEEDs program which mentors teen girls through dance at her studio in a small rural town in Washington state. Salyna’s dancing reflects a commitment to personal growth by internalizing rhythms and expressing emotion through the body – dancing from the heart. Poetry and visual art continue the conversation of dance with words and images that dance on the page. You may contact her through her website 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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