Far from Ellicott City......

Mar de Jade, Chacala Beach, Nayarit, MEXICO! March 13-20. Dance studio window at dusk.

There is so much to say about the dance retreat week: The mix of energy and peacefulness; the sound of the ocean; the beauty of the center itself; the outstanding food; the soaring birds; and especially the women who danced together with Danielle Woermann and Monica Welty, our NIA teachers...but I don't need to elaborate. The spirit persists...SO...

I am simply sharing a poem written at Mar de Jade, first in English, then translated into Spanish, and finally, presented one morning to the dance participants in both English and Spanish (see below).

The poem--in two languages--was written by hand inside a large card featuring a beautiful watercolor by Alison Weeks.

Before a morning dance class toward the end of the week, I read the poem in English. Debbie Duncan followed with her melodious reading in Spanish. Debbie, Kay and Monica shown here.

Mar de Jade

This is no place for longing,
She said.

Cloud dragons releasing joy;
Frigate battalions patrolling;
One butterfly finds gold!

-Or so I’m told-

Now, in the fragrant air,
A lost voice nudges me,
Bones to body emerging,
Then suddenly I feel you
Walking by this green sea,
Two becoming one,

-But not for long-

Alone again, and
Hear my song!
All longing gone.

Kay Weeks 3.17.10
__________________________




Mar de Jade


No es lugar para añorar,
Ella dijo.
Dragones de niebla soltando alegría;
Flotillas de fragatas vigilando;
Una mariposa encuentra oro!

-O así me dices-

Ahora en el fragante aire,
Una voz perdida me empuja,
Huesos en carne emergen.
Y de repente te siento
Caminando al lado del verde mar,
Dos haciendose una,

-Pero no por mucho-

De nuevo, sola
Eschucha mi canto!
Todo añoro olvidado.

Kay Weeks
3.19.10
Translation by Alfredo Nava-Tudela
Jabez W. Churchill, Debbie Duncan