Author: Maria
A Necessary Solitude
A Necessary Solitude When I discover the divine within myself, I recognize it everywhere I look. By Maria Brady-Smith Photo by Mike Smith ... Read More
Clear and Bright
Clear and Bright To Clara on her 34th birthday Being your mother has so defined my path, it is hard to conceive that there was a time before. But on this, your birthday, I want to travel back and back... Read More
On Watching Mr. Rogers Bury a Dead Fish
On Watching Mr. Rogers Bury a Dead Fish My grandchildren and I sat mesmerized, as he quietly, carefully, netted the little silver body, wrapped it reverently in a paper towel shroud, troweled a hole i... Read More
Other People
Other People Of course, the big lessons came from family members, teachers, the major players in your life. But there were other, less obvious people, too. You know who they were- a neighbor whose kid... Read More
Younger Self
Younger Self I can see her there, looking confident, cocky even, but I know her well. She is terrified, has no idea what she is supposed to do with this “life” that is now, suddenly, hers. I wonde... Read More
Rhythm of the Sea
Rhythm of the Sea It took a day and night to arrive in Ireland by plane. My spirit, however, lagged behind, gliding slowly over land and ocean. It was carried in by the tide to the Antrim Coast where ... Read More
A Favorite Poem- “December” by Gary Johnson
December by Gary Johnson A little girl is singing for the faithful to come ye Joyful and triumphant, a song she loves, And also the partridge in a pear tree And the golden rings and the turtle doves. ... Read More
Expansion and Contraction
Expansion and Contraction In the beginning, I lived in a womb. That is how small my world once was. When I stretched that place to its limit, I was born. My world has been an expanding circle ever sin... Read More
Note to a Young Parent
Note to a Young Parent Despite the vastness of your love, you, too, will undoubtedly encounter a particular brokenness in yourself so deep that you cannot traverse it, even for your children’s s... Read More
Questions About Place
Questions About Place Can you ever really know a place? You show up, dwell in it for a short time or long, but you never know its whole history. What happened here before- a day ago, a decade, a centu... Read More
Thank You, Dear Body
Thank You, Dear Body Thank you, dear body, for embracing my spirit so steadfastly, for the unfaltering rhythm of breath and heartbeat all these many years. Thank you, dear body, for drawing all you ne... Read More
Tree of Plenty
Tree of Plenty Pushing my basket up one row, down the next, hesitating occasionally to pluck crisp apples from a bin, gather cans of beans, choose fresh bread from an endless selection while strangers... Read More
What is a Poem?
What is a Poem? You know that feeling when you’ve got too much to do and you can’t imagine how you are going to pack it all in so to calm yourself, you count ahead to the next quiet day, which doe... Read More
