Behind the Easel

To the self that still hides behind her theories.

I went behind the easel and hid there

Where you were; the landscape was too

Impossible—my manuals, though,

Had everything

There was to know. Painting 101 taught me

To draw inspiration from life; Life

Had used to teach me how to paint.

How to Paint

Is nice to read. I finished the book

Behind the easel and thought you’d

Like it for sure. Read it. The book

Has everything there is to know

About the other side. A landscape

Would have been painted there

By Courage, by neither you nor I.

Leave him to do it; these manuals

Are far more interesting. Ignore

The landscape outstretched before us.

Behind the easel is a pretty blank

Canvas we could paint together.