Author: Maria
Collecting Dandelions, Collecting Memories
Happy Sunday morning! So here is a little story within a story. The other day, my granddaughter, Celia, sixteen months old, toddled over and handed me a dandelion. She just completely melted my heart ... Read More
Dissonance
Dissonance While eating breakfast, I watch two cardinals hop along the fence in the bright, crisp sunshine. A fuzzy brown rabbit hunkers down in the tall grass to rest. Meanwhile, I listen to a radio ... Read More
Hiking Companions
Hiking Companions Anxiety starts off strong, picking up stones along the path to rub their sharp edges, but wears out quickly. Melancholy quietly places those stones in a sack and slings it over his s... Read More
New book: Light Would Find Me
Hello, friends! I wanted to let you know that I have a new small book (chapbook) of poetry coming out just in time for National Poetry Month. It is called “Light Would Find Me”. Also reall... Read More
Milestones
Milestones Without realizing it, the years have slipped quickly by and suddenly, our quiet house is lit up with the noise and dearness of grandchildren. I watch them in wonder, each little face so uni... Read More
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
