Poetry Porch: Poetry

 

THE ARTIST
by Ted Richer




She had her easel, her palette, her brush.


She had her canvas.


“Paint,” I said.


She stared at the canvas.


Hour after hour.


“Paint what?” she said.


I stared, too, hour after hour.


“Paint black,” I said.


She painted black.


So.


She had her easel, her palette, her brush.


She had her black canvas.


“Paint,” I said.


She stared at the canvas.


Day after day.


“Paint what?” she said.


I stared, too, day after day.


“Paint white,” I said.


She painted white.


So.


She had her easel, her palette, her brush.


She had her white canvas.


“Paint,” I said.


She stared at the canvas.


Week after week, month after month.


“Paint what?” she said.


I stared, too, week after week, month after month.


“Paint black and white,” I said.


She painted black and white.


So.


She had her easel, her palette, her brush.


She had her black and white canvas.


“Paint,” I said.


She stared at the canvas.


Year after year.


“Paint what?” she said.


I stared, too, year after year.


“Paint paint,” I said.


She painted paint.


So.


She had her easel, her palette, her brush.


She had her painted canvas.




Copyright © 2017 by Ted Richer.