Cyn Grace Sylvie

Cyn Grace Sylvie (she/they) is a queer neurodivergent writer and spiritual educator whose work explores the internal drives and subversive desires of human experience, through the lens of mythology, sensuality, magic and mysticism. Cyn is a recipient of Epiphany Magazine’s 2017 Short Nonfiction Prize, and long-listed as a Notable Nonfiction Selection in ‘The Best American Essays of 2018’ (Mariner Books). Their writing has appeared in The Literary Review, The Dewdrop, Open Secrets Magazine, and The Rumpus. They are the founder of TAROT CHURCH, an educational movement that aims to destigmatize tarot across faith systems. They are first generation Italian-American diaspora, and reside in Jersey City, NJ.  

Follow them on Substack for all the fresh tea.

Water’s Soul Speaks: Poetry Project

An Interactive Poetic Experience To Raise Awareness of Our Water Crisis

About the Project

“Water is a marvelous metaphor; one drop of water is quite alone, like a single person, but many drops can create a tidal wave or immense rivers and oceans, much like individual people come together to create community, exchange ideas and build something incredibly powerful.”
– Jaume Plensa.

Water’s Soul Speaks is a collective immersive poetry experience that encourages New Jersey poets to engage in poetic conversation with a Jersey City landmark.

Water’s Soul (2021) is a sculpture along the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway in the Newport section of Jersey City, New Jersey. It depicts a woman with closed eyes holding a finger to her lips in a state of silent contemplation and self-reflection. Conceived by Jaume Plensa and commissioned by LeFrak and Simon Property Group, the work is a composite of polyester resin, fiberglass, and marble dust, and stands 80 feet (24 m) tall. It faces the Hudson River and the New York City skyline. Created at Plensa’s Barcelona studio, it was shipped in 23 containers, each 40 feet (12 m) feet long, to the site.

For Jersey City residents the statue is one that often is spoken about in a quixotic fashion. There are many theories as to the curious placment of the fingers pressed to the lips of the statues face. Is the figure pensive, or are they asking us to be silent. What is the secret that is being conveyed, or withheld?

With this social conversation as my prompt, I created an interactive form and encourage participants to provide secrets in the form of poetry and prose, giving voice to the silent statue. Building an audio recording with these secrets, I then created a “poetic sanctuary” where attendees could listen to the submitted work of the interactive participants. The audience was then encouraged to take and leave secrets as they roam the space.

First premiered at JCAST (October 2025), Water’s Soul Speaks was an interactive installation that was held over the course of days, that culminated in a poetic performance of works by contributing poets.

Preserving & Protecting Our Waterways:

On the same week that this performance was held, a federal judge ruled that Holtec International could release treated, radioactive wastewater from the decommissioned Indian Point Power Plant into the Hudson River, sparking protests from New Jersey and New York environmentalists concerned about water quality. Later that same month, New Jersey lawmakers considered legislation to encourage building a new nuclear plant in NJ, potentially impacting state waterways and energy supply. 

Key Events Around October 2025:

  • Indian Point Wastewater Release: A federal judge invalidated New York’s “Save the Hudson” law, clearing Holtec International to discharge treated radioactive water from the former Indian Point plant into the Hudson River, a decision opposed by New York officials and environmental groups due to potential risks to wildlife and drinking water.
  • NJ New Nuclear Plant Bill: In November 2025, New Jersey introduced legislation (the “New Jersey Energy Security and Affordability Act”) to incentivize new nuclear power, potentially changing the state’s energy landscape and impacting local water resources. 

These legislations are a direct threat to the integrity of the water supply that is essential to the health of welfare not only of New Jersey residents, but all those who utilize the resvoirs in the tristate area. In essence, the timeframe saw both potential threats (Hudson River discharges) and potential expansion (new NJ plant) concerning nuclear energy and waterways in the region. 

This project took on an additional significance on this day. By honoring our water through words, we also encourage those who are interested in this project to learn more about the dangerous circumstances our waterways have been placed in, with these legislations having been knocked down.

Articles To Read To Stay Informed:

Indian Point to resume radioactive wastewater release after feds reaffirm regulatory control
Hudson Valley One :: October 10, 2025

Indian Point Power Plant Slated To Dump Nuclear Waste In The Hudson River
The Empire City Wire :: October 9, 2025

Judge Allows Indian Point Discharges
The Highlands Current :: September 26, 2025

Activists look to Gov. Hochul after Indian Point wastewater court decision
News 12 Hudson Valley :: September 29, 2025

New York to appeal after judge OKs radioactive Indian Point water in the Hudson
New York News :: October 14, 2025

Radioactive water to be dumped into Hudson: US court allows release of contaminated water
Interesting Engineering :: October 3, 2025

How You Can Help:
Contact your local county executors and ask them to work to reinstate the ban on waste water being released into the waterways connecting New York and New Jersey.

Poetic Contributors

Special thank you to all the poets who contributed to the first performance of this installation:

Buttered Roll / Crystal Letters / Danielle D’Adamo (Joisey Dani) / Roxanne Marie Pluas Hoffman / Susan Justiniano (Rescue Poetix) / Danny Shot / Exilene Jean Michel Samedi / Jaden Gwynn / Jay Maryseki / John C. Massett / Mark Faunlagui / Midas Alvo / Miriam Heddy / Tabitha Dial / Vers Sirota / Zohreh Zadbood

Promotional Partners:

Special thank you to the following organizations for their assistance in raising awareness of this project:

Afterword Productions
Greenville Arts Crossroads
Hoboken Historical Museum
JCAST: Jersey City Art & Studio Tour
Jersey City Poetry Festival
Jersey City Writers
Museum of Jersey City History
NJ Poetry Circle
Poets Wear Prada
The Creative Side
The Poetry Unfold

Special thank you to Rob Hart and Danny Shot for photographic assistance, and Mick LoMauro for audio support.

A very special thank you to the management and staff of Cafe Lafayette for their commitment and dedication in helping me bring this project to life in their venue.

Musical Partnerships:

Special thank you to Gabriel Cleveland for curating the audio experience that accompanied the multimedia experience.

Gabriel is a poet and fiction writer with an MFA in Creative Writing from Pine Manor College. Along with Joan Cusack Handler, he co-edited Places We Return To, a 20th Anniversary retrospective on the publishing history of CavanKerry Press, where he serves as Executive Director and Managing Editor. An avid video gamer and music lover, he hosts The Andover Special, a weekly internet radio program on HomeGrownRadioNJ. Gabriel is also a mental health advocate, often working online to raise awareness, visibility, and money for psychological and social issues. He has spent several years in the field of caregiving for people with increased physical and/or mental needs and wants you to know you’re not alone.

You can still experience and enjoy the soundtrack Gabriel curated for this project on Spotify:

Interested in Exhibiting?

Water’s Soul Speaks is a continuous project, and as such is seeking opportunities to be exhibited again in the future. Exhibition inquiries can be sent to: cyngraces (at) gmail (dot) com