Back to the Beginning

I gaze at the completed painting - a symphony of color.

tinted water drips up to my brush as it becomes loaded with paint
and spirits away finishing touches
bright shades spread off the picture
erasing a streak there, a splash— there
slowly becoming more and more visually dis cor dant
swiping a mistake onto the plane
and another
before the shapes start thinning out
diffusing like an unimpressed crowd to make more empty space

soon the compelling hues separate themselves into red, into yellow, into blue—
and finally the last touch of color is tentatively . blotted . out

leaving a canvas that is expectant, snowy, and rough.