Skip to main content

"TWO SISTERS" by Cheryl Anne

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.
My dance is prayer.
My prayer dances its way to Heaven.
I sing.
I am silent.
My song is woven with passionate pauses.
My silence is the deepest song of my soul.
I am pure and chaste.
I am wanton and wild.
In chastity, I give myself to all the world.
In wildness, I am virgin, belonging only to myself.
I am nun.
I am gypsy.
My cloister is the greenwood.
My caravan is an oaken pew.
I am these Two Sisters.
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

Popular posts from this blog

IMAGINE A WOMAN by Patricia Lynn Reilly

  This poem invites you to look upon yourself with loving kindness… Gazing at your own true reflection, you will discover that everything you have longed for “out there” is already within you! I invite you to love your creativity fiercely. Faithfully plant seeds, allowing under-the-ground dormant seasons, nurturing your creative garden with love and gratitude. In the fullness of time, the green growing things thrust forth from the ground. It's a faithful, trustworthy process. AND it takes time and patience.  Blessed is the fruit of your creative womb! I invite you to trust your vision of the world and express it. With wonder and delight, paint a picture, create a dance, write a book, and make up a song. To give expression to your creative impulses is as natural as your breathing. Create in your own language, imagery, and movement. Follow no script. Do not be limited by the customary way things have been expressed. Your creative intuition is original. Ga...

IN THE STILLNESS OF THE NIGHT by Ginny Brannan

 Just take a moment to pause... When life becomes rote, and frustration grows from being immersed in the same routine—different day, sometimes we need to remind ourselves that peace is still there—within our grasp— if we just take a moment to pause and enjoy the stillness and beauty around us. In the Stillness of the Night  by Ginny Brannan Late winter’s eve and all is still the lawn lies bathed in silver light— gray shadows race across the yard and climb atop the windowsill to draw my gaze upon the sight. I stare out to the moonlit night, across the deck and wooded path fresh–painted by new fallen snow. The scene infuses with delight; this gift inside storm’s aftermath. Half–buried now, the old birdbath lies shadowed deep in indigo— it waits on promise of the spring when arctic chill has finally passed and snow gives way to new green grass. With gratitude, I hedge to go; tranquility allays my soul… I turn ...

STILL I RISE by Maya Angelou

Six years ago, I had the privilege of listening to Maya Angelou speak live on the value of poetry at the University of Florida. I share these reflections with you again today, in honor of her birthday.  I was relieved to get one of the last seats available for this rare event, having arrived at five for Maya Angelou ’s free speech at eight. The historically long line began with people settled into beach chairs in winter coats busying themselves on tablets, or eating sandwiches for dinner. As helicopters hovered above and newscasters below, I felt the excitement of realizing that thousands of people were gathering together to hear an eighty four year old black woman recite her poetry! Maya Angelou speaking at University of Florida on Feb. 27, 2013  When the curtain rose -after an overflow of hundreds were sent away- we lucky ones on the inside greeted Maya with a standing ovation, as she smiled sweetly, beginning her talk using metaphors from nature. Maya asked...