draw over
my third eye
- sun's gift of light
my forehead
- moon's arc for peace
scatter your words
wet on my cheeks
- that I may understand the tears of others
bold on my shoulders
- that I may carry their cares like an offering
rub sea-salt
on these hands
- to nurture children like seeds
on these feet
- to carry proudly your name
Posted for: Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - OpenLinkNight & Artistic Impressions with Margaret - The above is Chelsea's finished body painting depicting the African Mythological Goddess, Yemaya Oshun.
Shared with Poets United
Thanks for the visit ~
I.Love.This.Poem. A daughter's prayer. Perfect!
ReplyDeleteLove the writing, wonder at the ability of any human to carry that weight.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful...I love the third eye reference, the playful way with your words, so well done! Made me smile :D
ReplyDeletescatter your words
ReplyDeletewet on my cheeks
- that I may understand the tears of others
bold on my shoulders
- that I may carry their cares like an offering
nice...that whole middle section, is just amazing...i love the compassion in your words...and that it is not all about you...this makes for a wonderful philosophy for life as well grace....def one of my favs of yours...
Cleverly done...I love your poetry Grace.
ReplyDeleteThis one carries your words so well, one of the top's at you cell. And watch those feet, carrying everything the may get beat haha
ReplyDeleteThe middle section is something to sink in to... to absorb
ReplyDeleteThe ending, rubbing sea salt and carrying proudly your name is inspired as well. I am thrilled that this beautiful poem was inspired by Chelsea's art work!
Do you mind linking up at my challenge site as well? So I can easily have Chelsea read them all? :) Thanks.
Delete~ Done and thanks for the lovely inspiration ~
DeleteThis is such a beautiful poem, I would love to hang this up on a wall and read it everyday.
ReplyDeleteI love your approach to this prompt. Each section of the poem gives a different aspect of the feminine goddess - I particularly love the concluding stanza, the rubbed salt is a fabulous image.
ReplyDeleteYes, a beautiful middle, sandwiches by two excellent slices of mysticism.
ReplyDeletelove the fusion of pagan and liturgical elements in the poem and the picture.
ReplyDeleteWonderful take Grace! You've done it very well matched by the sweet Chelsea!
ReplyDeleteHank
...i like the notion of rubbing sea salt like seeds... two poems in combo... one suggestive... the other is objective... both well served for the loss & fullness of each to provide a single purpose... great one Grace... much enjoyed.. smiles... liked the body paint inspiration...
ReplyDeleteYour words echo most every mother's hopes.
ReplyDeleteAnd they follow the painting very well too.
A nice write, Grace.
..
What a great response to the photo prompt Margaret provided. I particularly like the sea salt section... I need to immerse myself in sea water every year, and a few sea salt shower scrubs carry me over until the next time. ;-)
ReplyDeleteSo very very lovely.
ReplyDeleteWonderfully structured which complements the meaning so well. I particularly like
ReplyDeletescatter your words
wet on my cheeks
- that I may understand the tears of others
bold on my shoulders
- that I may carry their cares like an offering
Beautiful words Grace.
Wow ... some beautiful lines in that prayer !!!
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful, especially this:
ReplyDelete"scatter your words
wet on my cheeks
- that I may understand the tears of others"
Wonderful piece, Grace.
~andy
So lovely, "that I may carry their cares like an offering"........this sounds more like a mother's prayer, than a daughter's, but then we are both, in the end. One of my favorites of yours, Grace. Absolutely beautiful.
ReplyDeleteOh, wow, Grace, this is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteK
This is beautiful, Grace.
ReplyDeleteGrace, this is just lovely, and beautiful seems the appropriate word to describe it. love the image, too. x
ReplyDeleteA spiritually educational poem. nice work
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful verse.
ReplyDeleteThis is simple, yet deep and powerful.
ReplyDeleteYour words are a soothing unguent for my heart this day.
ReplyDeletea very deep bow, Grace!
Scatter your words -wet on my cheeks - Lovely words, beautifully written. Very powerful
ReplyDeleteThis is truly beautiful.
ReplyDeletevery, very nice! keep it going, Grace.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written for some of the roads I have followed.
ReplyDeleteThat is the coolest pic, and what a companion to that. Grace, one thing I love about you is that you are always all over the board when it comes to writing style. I never feel like I have read the same thing as I did last time or the time before. That is quite a talent. Match the up with the beauty of your style and you have it...and I love it. Great job.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully done, Grace. This had a healing effect...at least, it happened to me. Gorgeous piece!
ReplyDeleteThis might be my all-time favorite of yours! It is just perfection!
ReplyDelete