John O'Donohue, the late Irish poet, philosopher, and former Catholic priest...
...taught that we should welcome, embrace, even protect and celebrate our contradictions. As I seem to be full of them, I have found his teachings on the subject to be incredibly healing and liberating. The following piece of writing is an exercise in making peace with some of my seeming contradictions; a celebration of the complexity of the human soul.
"Two Sisters"
by Cheryl Anne
I dance.
I pray.
I pray.
My dance is prayer.
My prayer dances its way to Heaven.
My prayer dances its way to Heaven.
I sing.
I am silent.
I am silent.
My song is woven with passionate pauses.
My silence is the deepest song of my soul.
My silence is the deepest song of my soul.
I am pure and chaste.
I am wanton and wild.
I am wanton and wild.
In chastity, I give myself to all the world.
In wildness, I am virgin, belonging only to myself.
In wildness, I am virgin, belonging only to myself.
I am nun.
I am gypsy.
I am gypsy.
My cloister is the greenwood.
My caravan is an oaken pew.
My caravan is an oaken pew.
I am these Two Sisters.
I am One Woman; whole, complete.
I am One Woman; whole, complete.
Photograph of Sophia Sundari |
Cheryl Anne: As a very young girl, I discovered the magic of turning my observations and swirling thoughts and feelings into poems and songs. The love of language; spoken, sung, and written, and also the silent language of presence, has remained through all life's twists and turns. I am a lover and celebrant of the elements and seasons of the Heart and Soul, of Earth and Spirit; finding All Life to be sacred. I deeply enjoy the privilege of sharing my life with three beloved children and a few more than three beloved friends. Presently I work in the field of in-home elder care and companioning. My greatest joy is found in being with those I so dearly love, and in the embrace and beauty of Nature.
~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!~
Comments
Post a Comment