Sunday, July 19, 2015

Of grace & poise

She moves effortlessly
as a flower
bright orange red
with petal cups holding 
rain water & dew
bearing a thousand seed pods
to be carried away by wind, 
birds & bats.   

She balances each day
with children
with household chores
with nature's remedies
with a crown lighter than
basket of food on her head.




 

                                   Mayan Indian woman carrying basket on her head  by Robert Crum
Picture credit:   here


Posted for Imaginary Garden for Real Toads - Goodness Gracious, hosted by Karin G.
& Poets United - Thanks for the visit ~

31 comments:

  1. Hey Grace! Women like that are incredibly graceful--it is amazing what they handle in their lives as your lovely poem points out--the bats as well as the birds--thanks for participating, thanks too for the lovely pic. k.

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  2. Wonderful thoughts and flow, you have captured great scenes and the photo is so apt. Greetings!

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  3. Here too, you see such grace and poise. Makes me wonder how they manage to do it. Lovely grace in your poetry too. :)

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  4. Your words have captured the feelings behind the painting very well, I think. Her life, just as the basket, is balanced.

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  5. strength, love and grace that is Woman...beautifully brought out Grace....

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  6. Sounds amazing!
    Have a nice week end!
    Photographer Gil Zetbase
    http://www.gilzetbase.com/

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  7. a crown lighter than the basket on her head --

    That brings grace full circle to me, she is the sum
    of all that she does for others - and yet, it does not
    consume her. She is more than that, and her riches
    may not be material - but riches they are.

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  8. This is beautiful, Grace.

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  9. I see the grace and feel it, though with a certain regret that it may only be a half life no matter how light the crown. Do flowers play? Does she?

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  10. A balanced life is sure a good one indeed, must take some skill to balance that on one's head too.

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  11. wonderfully done.what distinguishes the piece is its inclusive encompassing wave of affection for the less privileged others.

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  12. Beautiful Grace and I love the picture!! Lovely!

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  13. This is dedication. The photo reminded me of our country too, Grace. The subject matter is one the harsh realities but conveyed in a justifiable manner.

    The two stanzas are reminders how to write poems with elegance.

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  14. I've always wondered about the grace and sense of balance the women of some countries (like the one in the image) possess to carry those baskets on their heads. Such patience, such grace. love the poem and the image!!!

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  15. Such a wonderful depiction of that painting :D
    Delightful read :D

    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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  16. This is a wonderful tribute to womanhood - her physical and spiritual grace.

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  17. You did a particularly good job of highlighting the story of motherhood. Well done!

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  18. She balances each day... I like that. Sometimes life makes us feel like jugglers, too.

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  19. The woman you depict is gracefull indeed. And many, though they do not juggle a basket on their heads, are full of the grace that calls them to be good mothers.

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  20. Love the images of the flower...wonderful poem about grace!

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  21. Nicely said and shown. There's a timelessness....

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  22. you are certainly well named :) ~

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  23. well drawn up with words. Grace-fully penned, mi amiga

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  24. That last image is certainly arresting and humbling...and yet we can achieve a state of grace no matter our circumstances..

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  25. Yes ! ...and with a love some will never understand. Very nice Piece.
    ZQ

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  26. Lovely. A stirring and beautifully rendered articulation of true femininity.

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  27. I had to chuckle a bit about this--what a lovely description of motherhood. EXCEPT for my wonderful, never met a stove she knew how to use, or a stranger she could not cut red tape for. A 40's feminist who by convention not only wore a bra and girdle but never let them squeeze enough wind out of her to stop her from taking on every thorny issue and usually regaling the other person with stories of justice as they picked the thorns from their flesh.

    That women would not balance anything on her head but she sure as heaven is high carry someone who had neck pain.

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  28. That woman is an amazing person to do so much.

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  29. That's real grace. Wonderfully writ.

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