The book, Miriam Dancing, by Elise van Wyk is an anthology of stories of women who love women. Each story is illustrated with a photograph of the narrator and/or her partner. Song of Songs is a story about the sacred union ceremony of Chrissi Smith and Morag McAllister. Two love letters form part of their ritual.
Chrissi writes:
Dearest Morag, you are my best friend, my mentor, my favourite cartoon character, my guardian angel. God put a little piece of heaven on earth the day you were born. You have taught me to love unconditionally, to see God’s love and God’s creation in the smallest flower, the littlest ant and every colourful stone. You have opened my eyes to the things which have real value and which showed me the joy of life in every day. You make me laugh, you make me love on a deeper level, and you inspire me to become a better person. My prayer is that God will spare us for each other for many years to come. I will strive to have a fraction of the goodness that you are to everyone who knows you.
I love you.
Chrissi
Morag writes:
My dearest Chrissi. You are centred, steadfast and true to yourself. Yet, you are open and enquiring about all the different paths of spirituality. I appreciate it that you are always willing to stand by me and to go the extra mile. You are supportive and you help me to believe in myself even when I feel the world is falling down around me. You have opened your heart to my family ... sometimes for better or for worse! Dear Chrissi, may our blessing be that the love, laughter and fellowship of the past 12 years continue to grow as we continue to grow together.
Love.
Morag
MIRIAM DANCING – ON SALE NOW
On Women’s Day 2009 in South Africa, Elise van Wyk launched an anthology of true stories by lesbian, bisexual and transgender women. Women in the LGBTI community often have to deal with the tension between the internalised homophobic images of same-sex love, which fundamentalist Christianity regularly endorses, and commitment to their own passionate hearts. In Miriam Dancing a diverse group of South African women tell their personal stories of love for their own kind.
Illustrated with beautiful black and white photographs, and printed on beige recycled paper, Miriam Dancing is also available under the Afrikaans title, Miriam Dans. These books can be ordered from Elise on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for a special launch price of R100. (If you want the book to be mailed, an additional R20 will be charged for packaging and postage.) By the end of the year the books will be available at bookshops at an estimated retail price of R170.
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