LUZ MARÍA LÓPEZ

LUZ MARÍA LÓPEZ

BACHA POSH

Free myself of isolation chains

all obscurity surrounding my mind

the walls that deny existence

open now the entrances of liberty

let me be a self beyond the curtains

that blinds all light, dampening the spirit,

for a bird is about to die!

I will gladly hide my soft curves

while the fresh air hits my face

with the flavor of danger

the sting of manhood

ruling the world.

*bacha posh –  literally "dressed up as a boy",  refers to a cultural practice in which a daughter is picked  to live and behave as a boy.

AFLAME

garlands of marigolds float over my body,

at the bank of the river an old monkey observes

unperturbed by the shadows of humans seeking

a path to purify their own existence

oblivious to the sadhus chanting early prayers,

i submerge into the waters

an existential trance

seeking the path to inner self

a myriad of pyres lay golden touches

to the holy waters full of scattered ashes

from bodies breaking the cycle of death and rebirth

- now free from all chains of mundane existence-

reaching nirvana or hell...!

visions flow from my eyes

get washed away as earthly echoes,

only to become one with the universe

far beyond i seek the horizon

a carnal hallucination

a quest to survive this enlightenment,

while the faith of the river scorches my flesh

burn it down!

salt the earth!

let this spiral of passion

that renders this woman so unholy

revolve aflame!

ONEIRIC

life is an infinite whisper

one must dare to grasp

unescapable destiny

written on the walls of time

flowing always towards the wind

to enlighten thy soul

stepping over the ground

- again and ever -

expected passage

to rebuild a dream

begin yet another journey

by walking over own shadows

seeking the light of another horizon

and finally, surrender

nested in the mystery

within a heartbeat

as if nothing else matters,

just the feeling

beneath the skin.

LUZ MARÍA LÓPEZ

LUZ MARÍA LÓPEZ is a poet, narrator, editor, translator, cultural manager and advocate from Puerto Rico, a Caribbean island. She has published five poetry books in Spanish (mother language) and English. Is the editor of four international poetry anthologies, two of them are hard cover printed editions; one of the hard cover editions is issued in Spanish. In addition, the author has translated more than 60 poets from different countries. Her poems are also translated to more than ten languages and published in renowned literary magazines and books in China, Bangladesh, Italy, Kazakhstan, Romania and other countries. She received the Kathak Literary Award, Dhaka Poetry Summit, Bangladesh 2017; Shaan -E- Adab (Glory of Literature) Award, Kafla Intercontinental Literature Congress, India 2016; Universal Inspirational Poet Award, Pentasi B Poetry Festival, Ghana 2016. She is Director of World Festival of Poetry (WFP) and leads the Poetic Front Defending Women’s Rights (WM) counting with actions and activism at international level.