Peonies (1897) William Merritt Chase
a healer
lives within
quietly airing
multi-layered
folds of
sphinx-like
beauty
******
sometimes
I walk back to
my beloved grandmother's cottage
on the outside
the cottage seems
neglected
choking with
weathering and
weeds
gateless
fenceless
there is little
visible appeal
at least
not to strangers
but inside
in a dusty
webby
room
hangs
a lone painting
of a humbly elegant woman
gently bending
to admire
her precious selection
of peonies
****
I know just when
to view this painting
it must be
early morning light
spring light
softly streaming
through
smudged glass
as if some beam
from afar
scrambles to connect
for a little while
it is then
the painting glows
****
she looks so young
so sacred
so at peace
with her healer
she is
her own god
and
each visit here
I feel
a painful
longing
to be more than
some adoring child
at her altar
indeed
sometimes
I need
to damn
the insane urge
to stay
Linking to:
Magpie Tales #283
