Charis
By Nicola Slee
You touched my flesh
with infinitely tender embrace:
with touch of charis,
the caress of grace,
the chrism of bliss.
You sought my face
with your lips,
came closer than breathing
to give me the kiss of peace.
No one loved me like this.
You opened my body
like rain parting leaves,
like the blessing of oil
on a dying man’s brow.
You blessed, broke and offered
the bread of your body.
You ate of my flesh,
you drank of my juice.
You forsook every other
and cleaved unto me.
We are flesh of one flesh.
We are forged of one will.
We are still,
in the heart,
in the bone,
in the dark,
in the tongueless,
wondering place
where two are made one.
We are gift,
we are grace,
we are the face of love.
We are one, we are one.
– Taken from Courage to Love: Liturgies for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community, edited by Geoffrey Duncan (Cleveland: The Pilgrim Press, 2002). This poem was found at Michael J. Bayly’s blog, The Wild Reed.
Note: In Greek mythology, a Charis is one of several Charites (Greek: “Graces”), goddesses of charm, beauty, nature, human creativity and fertility. They ordinarily numbered three, from youngest to oldest: Aglaea (“Beauty”), Euphrosyne (“Mirth”), and Thalia (“Good Cheer”). In Roman mythology they were known as the Gratiae, the “Three Graces.”
Nicola Slee
Nicola Slee is a theologian and poet based at the Queen’s Foundation, Birmingham, where she teaches feminist and contextual theology. She also works freelance, doing a wide range of writing, speaking and retreat work, with a particular interest in women’s spirituality, faith development, liturgy and poetry. The author of numerous articles, her previous books include Faith and Feminism (DLT, 2003) and Praying Like a Woman (SPCK, 2004). She lives with her partner and two cats in Stirchley, Birmingham.
Joe
The Closet Professor 
September 18th, 2012 at 9:16 am
Amazing! Such beautiful imagery in the poem!!!!
September 18th, 2012 at 8:08 pm
Truly awesome piece.Peace <3Jay