Her hands were a blur
of harsh bitten nails
smudges of ink
and the assurance that comes
with creation.

On her arm there were
scabs and paint
and one ancient hair tie,
retied.

She was a mess,
and I loved her before my eyes ever
made it past her elbows.

Maria doesn’t believe in love at first sight, but her muse keeps trying to change her mind. She’s delighted to announce that her poem “Swept Away” was recently featured in The Coe Review.