Gracia – a poem by Bett Butler

Gracia

I’ve been thinking lately
about the word grace

how it sounds in Spanish
gracia     how it starts

with the catch of a brief breath 
against the roof of your mouth

then a half-rolled r flutters
on the butterfly of your tongue

I love the way its first syllable
grows in your opening mouth

only to find itself 
ebbing in a sibilant whisper

and the way its ending
not quite two syllables

dances away in the air
leaving your mouth unfastened

unfettered     open
in wonder

gracia

all the sounds of the world
are in that word      spoken

time and again      in thanks,
in beauty     in prayer

Often addressing the malignant legacies of racism, misogyny, and religious trauma, Bett Butler’s poetry and short fiction have appeared in small-press publications in the U.S., U.K., E.U., and Canada. An award-winning songwriter and jazz musician (International Songwriting Competition, Artist Foundation, Independent Music Awards), she co-owns Mandala Music Production, where she and her spouse produce music and spoken word licensed for HBO, Discovery Channel, and more. Her upcoming album, “The Gospel Truth,” is a musical response to the rise of Christian nationalism. More of her work can be found at www.mandalamusic.com.