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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