Grace

Such a small word with powerful meaning and aspirations toward it. What better defines Love than her sister Grace.

Grace

By

Carlos Lorenzo Estrada 

For me, every hour is grace. And I feel gratitude in my heart each time I can meet someone and look at his or her smile. -Elie Wiesel 

Grace resides in all things

That we seldom recognize of her

Revealed within the flow of time

In seconds we procure 

I've seen grace in birds that take up flight

Who soar to place unknown 

I have heard them sing a thousand times

In blissful songs of home

I've seen grace in infinite depths of sea

Whose waves move heart to weep 

In countless times their gleaming tears

Calm spirit to tender sleep

I've found grace within the cathedral

And solemnity of my soul.

Took guidance from these virtues 

and from love which made me whole.

I've seen grace in tender loving eyes

For their faith in brighter days 

Who offer gifts of simple kindness 

Despite their poorer ways

I've found grace atop a waterfall 

Her voice like shards of glass

Prayed the sun would never leave

In instance come to pass

I've seen grace in all the subtle ways 

she moves my soul to calm 

In single kiss I reminisce 

In treasured moments gone.

So remember grace in all these things

Should you find your heart in woe

For providence is found within 

Each heart that love will know

Author's Note

Greetings everyone, after my last submission I thought it would be a good idea to lighten things up a bit. This was an enjoyable write and am sure will speak to many hearts who have tales of their own Grace. Thank you for reading and feel free to leave your thoughts.

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

A beautiful poem which is so uplifting to read. I love where you have found grace. Descriptive and lots of reference to the natural world and relationships which pleases me. Well done Carlos. A delight to read.

Chris

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Chris for your wonderful thoughts on this piece. You have absolutely captured the defining qualities of this poem. The impact and reflection of Grace within the natural world. It was my intention to take the reader on a spiritual journey, not a religious one. For love resides inall these things I describe. Many of which we have taken for granted but all one has to do is open their heart to see it. Grace. Thank you Chris for sharing the journey of this poem with me. Because in all honesty it is only as beautiful as the heart that reads it.

[Chris Shaw]

What a lovely thing to say Carlos :)

[barleygirl]

Grace, shown in all it's exquisite variations thru great details in your poem, is what life & God's love is all about for me (((HUGS)))

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Margie for the kind words. My intent and hope from this piece was to stray from any religious connotation that may in the heart of many define grace. It was my intention to guide the reader through a spiritual journey instead toward these small reflections of grace we take for granted in life. The little things that awaken the greater within us. Love. As an agnostic I try to shy away from religious iconography and make the content more spiritual in nature. It is very difficult I find because religion has been so impactful in my life growing up as a child. It's also so deeply ingrained within my culture. We equate our better nature through religious ideology. So when writing of the spiritual we may at times bring in religious subtext that is identifiable to the reader. It's not to say I hate religion per se, for I find that it is needed for many in an empathetic society. It can have its value, but it can also be very destructive as we have seen throughout history. I have come to admire and appreciate many of the varied texts of different faiths. What ever brings a person closer toward their better angel I am all for I simply find personally that religion is not for me. I apologize for the long rant. There are quite a few writers here in our community who write a lot of religious content I have seen. I respect their art but just don't really believe in their religion. I hope these words don't come off as offensive, I'm just honest this way and don't want to mislead anyone. Thank you so much again.

[barleygirl]

I have offended a prolific writer of Christian-eze in the past few days, here at the cafe, becuz I can't quietly buy into the morphine effect of robotic joy-writing, which reminds me of regurgitating the same-ole same-ole found in every hymnal I ever saw. I don't care how these writers believe, but let's show some freshness, some originality, some basis for relating their beliefs to real life. Not this soporific mind-numbing brainwashing of rejoicing (((HUGS)))

[barleygirl]

(and you thought you had the corner on the market of being a cantakerous old fart)

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

I so love your wit and intellectual mind. I want you to be my spirit animal. Believe me you speak to a kindred spirit in regards towards your thoughts on particular types of writing themes and the monotony they may spawn. There is a virtue in being subtle as opposed to full out Jim Jones cultish in the content. And you are absolutely correct it resonates more when faith has relativity in one's life experiences. Give them a profound memory that speaks of its impact, not a greeting card of aphorisms. I so enjoy our conversations Margie. PS...I'm still dealing with your spider poem. It so haunts me in my sleep haha.

[barleygirl]

I love that you are both passionate & intellectually articulate. What a combination in a rant! *smile*

[Miss Sharon]

What a beautiful and uplifting post this is! (I've seen grace in all the subtle ways she moves my soul to calm) Your words also moved my soul to calm and I thank you. ~Sharon

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Sharon for this kind comment on this piece. It truly means a lot to me when someone says a piece of my writing has affected and touched them in some way. It is absolutely the sole reason I write. If I could somehow stir the heart of the reader then the work reflects its value in that gesture. It is my hope that these small moments of grace bring to memory a moment in the past that is a reminder of your own grace as well. Thank you again I truly appreciate it.

[NhanHoang]

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase. — Martin Luther King. I believe that faith is someone we all need because faith is hope and hope is action and I really do like this poem, it shows gratitude and the love of each new thing as well as each old thing we face appreciating the fact that we are able to experience again, Thank you for sharing your poem.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this poem I really appreciate the kind words.

[Brian D. Roth]

I must say it is refreshing to come across a piece that resonates on a level of hopefulness and tenderness.
It is equally as refreshing to sense an echo of the light-hearted spirit we so desperately need during these dark and uncertain times. Thank you so much for sharing and I look forward to reading more of your work.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Brian for the kind words. I wanted to write a piece that gave hope and wasn't too preachy or proselytize. One that takes the reader on a spiritual journey and not a religious one. This poem to me struck a good balance in its message and felt very meaningful in message as well as sincere. Thank you again for your thoughts on this work.

[Diane Gaffney]

Oh Carlos, I love it!!! Light yet ponderable. I like the flow and the rhythm. Good writing. Keep up.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Diane for your kind thoughts on this poem. I really enjoyed the message this poem has. I feel wholeheartedly about it. If it can bring a little hope to anyone that reads it then I'm happy with those results. Thank you so much again for your thoughts.

[Diane Gaffney]

you are welcome. I really enjoyed it. Thank you for the gift.

[LostSage]

you have so much forgiveness in you and you see the brighter things in life....yay....you have some kind of cheerfulness inside you that most of us gave up on years ago....keep writing friend....you may bring us around....stars atcha✨✨

you have so much forgiveness in you and you see the brighter things in life....yay....you have some kind of cheerfulness inside you that most of us gave up on years ago....keep writing friend....you may bring us around....stars atcha✨✨

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Jeff for the kind words I really appreciate it. There is an optimistic hope in this poem that seeks to shine the light on the little things that we take for granted. For in those small gifts there is a greater love that resides. This hopeful poem asks of the reader to live in those briefest of moments and find the grace in them. Thank you so much again for the kind words.

[John the Baptist]

Very nicely handled group of rhyming couplets here. The theme is inspiring. I would definitely recommend this offering to one going through bad times, when a spiritual lift is desperately needed.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you John for your kind thoughts on this poem. Even I have to admit taking these little things that are so meaningful for granted. I too must learn to live in the moment and allow my heart to see these graces around me. For they reflect the preciousness of each breath we have. Thank you again my friend.

[Fran Marie]

This is a most inspirational piece of
writing..so gently profound in its essence
Grace can be found in the most complex or
simplicity of things and people and of course
love..a we'll penned poem here Carlos;

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Fran for your thoughts on this poem. I wanted to capture the little things we take for granted to emphasize their importance toward the greater scheme of things. We often don't appreciate these small gifts as much as we should. I hope this poem will give pause to many who live life in a rush. To just take a moment to live in it and see the grace that surrounds them. Thank you again I really appreciate it.

[Ruth]

To be able to see grace in everything is a blessing Carlos - this world is heavy at times and yet somehow, there stills resides love and grace if we see it for what is grace but a gentle illumination in the darkness...only ever a reach away if one sees the balance, this is beautifully spoken poetry - a wonderful piece :)

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Ruth for your kind thoughts on this piece. You are absolutely right there is so much heaviness in the world currently. To find that spark of grace truly is a blessing. This community of amazing talented writers and the art they share is a universe of those sparks of grace. I love inhabiting and wandering through the journeys their stories and poems take me. They allow me to see the world and universe through their words and I'm a better man for it. Thank you again for your thoughts and the art you share as well.