Canvas

She is shaking, compact mirror in one hand

Paint brush in the other

Laid out on the porcelain in front of her;

 A dark pencil, rose-tinted paste,

A multitude of pigment-pots gleaming vibrant against the

White counter top

 

She is shaking

Painting to hide the canvas, filling

Every valley with color, and

Smoothing over every ridge

She is painting to hide the canvas

 

There is no artistry in her brush stroke

In her chest there is no breath

She is concentrating; surgical precision

She is painting because the canvas

Disgusts her

 

Off white and rough

She doesn’t know how to handle anything this organic of

Form

 

She is shaking

Compact mirror in one hand, paint brush in the other

Mixing dry pigments before dusting over the canvas again

 

She is still disgusted

Knowing that it is but below the painting

Knowing that there is always

A canvas below the painting

Reviews

[...]

. absolutely brilliant imagery ... powerfully profound ... amazing flow of words ... immensely enriching poetry ...