{"id":2465,"date":"2017-11-03T20:39:30","date_gmt":"2017-11-03T20:39:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/wordless\/"},"modified":"2023-04-20T18:11:52","modified_gmt":"2023-04-20T18:11:52","slug":"wordless","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bellagracemagazine.com\/blog\/wordless\/","title":{"rendered":"Wordless"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Wordless<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\tWords: Elle Harris<\/a><\/span>\n\t\n\tPhoto credit: Annie Spratt<\/a><\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cRead to me at the end, if there\u2019s time. And if I fail to understand, read to<\/p>\n

me anyway.\u201d \u2014 Robin Behn<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

There are very few experiences I\u2019ve had in my life that have left me wordless. <\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

In fact, I would guess that I could count on one hand the number of times it has happened. Words are sort<\/p>\n

of my trademark, and finding myself without them is somewhat akin to standing lost on a<\/p>\n

deserted road. But wordless was exactly where I found myself recently, and I\u2019m still not entirely<\/p>\n

sure that I can fully process the gravity of being lost in that moment.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For some time now, Bella Grace Magazine<\/em> has been an instrumental part of my life and<\/p>\n

my writing career. It started with a love affair \u2026 the thick pages of prose and poetry sweeping<\/p>\n

my reader\u2019s heart off its feet. Later, I had the beautiful opportunity to have multiple pieces<\/p>\n

published, and was then featured on the affiliate blog, Grace Notes. From sitting poolside or<\/p>\n

fireside and curling up with the company of Bella\u2019s words, to penning my next piece for<\/p>\n

submission, I thought I\u2019d loved the magazine fully before. As it turns out, I had barely scratched<\/p>\n

the surface of what Bella Grace<\/em> means to me.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

One of the greatest benefits of being a part of the Bella Grace<\/em> family has been all of the<\/p>\n

people I have met through her pages. I\u2019ve followed and been followed by countless other writers,<\/p>\n

photographers, and artists through this publication, and the connections have organically grown<\/p>\n

into a lovely extension of the mission, \u201cAn ordinary life can be extraordinary \u2026 and that magic<\/p>\n

can be found in the everyday.\u201d And yet, I had no idea how true it all was, until I met Michelle.<\/p>\n

A fellow Bella Grace<\/em> author, and poetic gourmet kitchen owner, I began following<\/p>\n

Michelle Gerrard-Marriott (of The Vibrant Kitchen and Home) on Instagram shortly after being<\/p>\n

published in the Fall 2016 issue<\/a>. I was enamored at her work, her words, and her mission; I<\/p>\n

quickly found myself \u201cliking\u201d almost every one of her posts, but never commenting. One day, I<\/p>\n

decided to take the two extra seconds to tell her how much I appreciated her post, and she replied<\/p>\n

almost instantly by telling me how I was an inspiration to her, and that my words had helped her<\/p>\n

endure. I had no idea what she could have meant, but thanked her, knowing full well her poetic<\/p>\n

posts were the real treasure. A few moments later, I received a message from her that set me on<\/p>\n

that speechless road.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Michelle went on to tell me about her beautiful best friend who, at twenty-eight-years<\/p>\n

old, was taken by cancer. She said that when Katrina (her friend) was in her final days of<\/p>\n

hospice, Michelle would read my poem from Bella Grace <\/em>Issue 9<\/a> \u201cRemembering Light,\u201d to her, over<\/p>\n

and over as she rested. She said that she will never forget her smile as she read. How are there<\/p>\n

words to follow such an admission? What thanks could I possibly offer? Unbeknownst to me, my<\/p>\n

words were being used to soothe, to calm, and to carry her spirit as it crossed from this life to the<\/p>\n

adventure waiting beyond it. There could never be a literary accolade more meaningful than<\/p>\n

being in that moment.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When I finally did catch my breath from crying, and catch my words from escaping me, I<\/p>\n

wrote back to precious Michelle. I asked her to tell me all about Katrina, and when she did, I<\/p>\n

asked her permission to write a poem, once again, just for her. After a few days, and countless<\/p>\n

prayers that I would be able to honor Katrina\u2019s memory properly, I sent Michelle a piece entitled,<\/p>\n

\u201cAs She.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Michelle replied that she was now wordless, but that she had sent the piece on to<\/p>\n

Katrina\u2019s mother, who said that the poem was a \u201ctimely gift\u201d for her wedding anniversary that<\/p>\n

day, her birthday and Father\u2019s Day that Sunday. She thanked me over and over again for the gift,<\/p>\n

not realizing that being able to know Katrina and Michelle \u2013 to know their friendship so<\/p>\n

intimately, and to now have gifted her family has been an incomparable blessing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I told Michelle once, that her story made me think of my favorite quote from author<\/p>\n

Robin Behn who said, \u201cRead to me at the end, if there\u2019s time. And if I fail to understand, read to<\/p>\n

me anyway.\u201d In her next response, Michelle told me that this passage was one of her favorite<\/p>\n

quotes, and that she had it hanging near her bed. At this point, how could I not believe in magic?<\/p>\n

In the spirit of moments that are ordained holy and precious. How could I not have faith that<\/p>\n

ordinary days can become extraordinary? How could I not believe in the story of Bella Grace<\/em>?<\/p>\n

May Bella<\/em> bring you beyond the pages of a beautiful magazine, and into the relationships<\/p>\n

that live across the country, beyond the borders of miracles, and into whatever comes next.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We would like to extend an enormous thank you to Elle for sharing this touching story with our readers. And now, we\u2019re very pleased to include Elle\u2019s original poem, \u201cAs She.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As She<\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

She was a life like no other<\/p>\n

a part of this world by circumstance,<\/p>\n

\u2026 not substance \u2026<\/p>\n

too exquisite to ever really belong in the confines of ordinary days<\/p>\n

Breathtakingly radiant,<\/p>\n

hers was not a beauty one could be jealous of,<\/p>\n

because when she was with you she shared herself so completely<\/p>\n

that you became beautiful too<\/p>\n

She was the vibrance of every story<\/p>\n

read or told<\/p>\n

and the storm behind every calm<\/p>\n

her spirit equal measures of chaos and grace<\/p>\n

And I miss her everywhere<\/p>\n

She was the sister I danced under the moon with<\/p>\n

the kindred echo of my thoughts<\/p>\n

the hand I didn\u2019t know I needed to hold until she was holding it<\/p>\n

the voice of adventure when reason had no claim<\/p>\n

the master of every plan<\/p>\n

the tether to all that made sense when nothing could<\/p>\n

She was the star I always followed home<\/p>\n

With every breath,<\/p>\n

even her last,<\/p>\n

she gave everything<\/p>\n

and I think<\/p>\n

sometimes<\/p>\n

that is why she had to leave<\/p>\n

Her soul was so light,<\/p>\n

that heaven itself became her gravity<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Her soul was so light,<\/p>\n

that heaven itself became her gravity<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And yet<\/p>\n

even now,<\/p>\n

after she has left her first destiny for her next<\/p>\n

she is with me<\/p>\n

her smile ever unclouded and fixed in my mind<\/p>\n

And the memory of her is a firework show \u2013<\/p>\n

every day of her life the grand finale<\/p>\n

She cast her radiance,<\/p>\n

her ethereal, effervescent glow<\/p>\n

upon all of those fortunate enough to be her audience<\/p>\n

And so she will always be \u2013<\/p>\n

the golden sparkle hanging in the air,<\/p>\n

imprinting her beauty against the sky<\/p>\n

leaving this life with a trail of light<\/p>\n

\u2026 unforgettable \u2026<\/p>\n

as she<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Elle Harris is a believer of impossible things. She is a lover of words, wonder, and the whimsical delights of everyday living. Caught in the creative place between reality and imagination is her favorite place to be. Please join Elle in pursuing life with intention, and grand conversation on her blog\u00a0 thisquotablelife.wordpress.com<\/a>. Find Elle on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @ElleHarris82.<\/em><\/p>\n

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