Maria G. Karalis

Centerville, MA, USA

Maria G. Karalis is a journalist, lecturer and author. She has written book review columns for the Cambridge Current, Newbury Street and Back Bay Guides. She has also written monthly columns for the Zephyr's Health Styles, a holistic health care newspaper. Maria is the author of two dynamic poetry books and one children's book. She wrote Starfish Flower, a book of surrealistic poetry of the sea and co-authored Breaking the Silence, poems of wounded women. Both her her poetry books express subconscious thought and feelings by awakening the spiritual self. She values and respects the need for individuation. Maria's children's book, Pally the Panda Bear goes to Preschool, is about an adorable Panda Bear who is very nervous about his first day at preschool. At Cape Cod Community College, she teaches a course: "Creating Healthy Self-Esteem in Women" and at Sandwich Community School, she teaches "Healing our Lives through Poetry." She recently was elected by The National Library of Poetry to be included in the Montage of Life anthology as well as The Best Poems of 1998. Maria received her Masters degree in Nursing from Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions in Boston where she studied chronic pain management. Her research includes "Women's Experiences of Fibromyalgia." Maria believes in healing our bodies and souls though the expression of poetic imagery. She has worked at Laurel School, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts Revere Health Clinic. She lives on Cape Cod. She can be emailed at MKaralis@aol.com and her web sites are http://www.bearpause.com/writers/books.htm and http://members.aol.com/Rebjet/vn1.html.

Starfish Flower I

I come from the depths
of the ocean
alive
with orange hues
and purple tentacles
floating
in the sea
and blossoming
in the sand
touched
by the gentle fairy
of the East.

Lotus Embryo

Exhaling
she touches
the white pebble rocks
forgetting
the lost children of the sea
nurtured
by mermaids
and muses
while her tentacles
were spread
within her lotus embryo
waiting
to be born.

Sea Moon

let me be the bubbling river
through the granite rocks
bursting
under the streams
trickling
with noises
of trout and frogs

let me be the sun
within your eyes
as the blue tides
of summer
bathe
the silenced seagulls

let me be the rain
that cleanses
your windowpanes
and nurtures
your pansy garden

let me be the moon
that lights
the candles
in the sea sky
protecting your summer
dreams.