Precarious Relations of Mind and Art

As I walked by the picture,
I noticed it's beauty, and I wondered...
I felt as if I should step lightly,
and hold my breath;
if I were to move,
the picture would fall
and destroy the peace of the hallway

When I saw the picture, I felt an urge...
an urge to write, and tell of the beauty
so other friends could share
the feeling of the picture.
But I couldn't move;
the picture would fall
and destroy the peace of the hallway

I stood and looked at the picture
and suddenly I wanted to run
run away from the beauty! I might damage it
and no one else could see the loveliness
but running would shake the picture
the picture would fall
and destroy the peace of the hallway

the picture surrounded me
but I wanted to leave!
screams rioted in my head, destroying my mind
a never ending war inside my head
but if I left,
the picture would fall
and destroy the peace of the hallway

suddenly I had a guest
who took me by the hand
and we touched the picture
discovering tangency soothed my madness
my guest led me away
leaving the picture behind
and restoring the peace to the hallway



Terri Hope Waters

December 1997

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kwaters@USCUpstate.edu