Pastel Painting
Mark Phillips
Pastel Painting
("Do not vainly hope in robbery...to Thee, O Lord, belongs
covenant-love." Psalm
62:10b,12a)
Emma roamed the nursing home halls like
a frightened fawn refusing to be comforted.
Her eyes darted in anxious exile canvassing
the linen whitewalls. She was all there and nowhere
slow.
Her gown was crinkle striped in candy colors,
70 year frame in '50's fashion. Her slippers gripped
the coldhard floor in shuffling aimless wander.
Wonder was in her heart.
The monthly birthday party promised love in the cafeteria.
Music and gospelpiano greeted the gathered citizens
while the local youth group sang their shyer songs.
Faint smiles welcomed the smallest greeting.
Emma followed her heart in the vacant halls,
still spying the canyon walls, when joy greeted her.
A pastel painting in soft comfort and sweet perfume
called her to its emotion fulfilling.
It was flowers on the wall in pink paler
than cotton candy sunrises, and blues
truer than friends had ever been.
She knew it was hers.
In childlike desire and stained thinking she took it
off the wall.
And carried the large as still-life across the hall
and past the cafeteria door.
The nurses saw the play and prank and disturbed
the lonely Emma's passion, and took
her pastel (gripped in shriveled hands) and
replaced it on the wall of belonging.
That pastel painting fit just right the hole in her
haunted heart. Sure she stole,
but who wouldn't, when empty could
be so full, till,
Seeing the vacant Emma, an only companion
with misshapen mouth and crooked face
refused the horror of friendless hoping
and left the party to wander the hall, and,
Filled the hole so black with handheld ease and
paintbrush passion. Pastels in truelife
carried Emma to new life in friendship's joy.
Oh, disfigured friend, with active art!
(c) Mark Phillips 3/22/97
--
Comforter come,
Mark P.
lamp...@minot.com
"He's heaven's breath to longing souls"
Mr. G./President
Mark Phillips wrote:
>
> Pastel Painting
>
> ("Do not vainly hope in robbery...to Thee, O Lord, belongs
> covenant-love." Psalm
> 62:10b,12a)
>
DEAR MARK: THE NEXT FOUR LINES are about the best I've ever seen you
write. Excellent. Very moving. Heart rendering. Beautiful! Equal to
any writer today . . . and yesterday.
Mr. G.
> It was flowers on the wall in pink paler
> than cotton candy sunrises, and blues
> truer than friends had ever been.
> She knew it was hers.
>
> snipped to fit answer: