– After Hua Xi, Everything lies in all directions
I dab dioxazine purple, one of the bluest shades of violet, on the blank canvas.
If I left it undiluted, unchanged by human hand, it would pass for deep black,
its own self, or a metaphor of color, potential, vibrance. I am one who adulterates,
alters pigmentation with cyan, cadmium, ivory; blends, feathers, shades with finger,
brush, breath, seeking a reflection of self, or the metaphor of self, life in all directions.
My paint swirls, builds, layers and arcs, approaches the edges. No canvas infinite,
each delimits what we create. I was the bluest shade, once a child, then my mother was.
Beyond this easel, life continues forward and back, blossom to bud to seed.
Can you see how the purple lupine, of our late summer hikes, has transformed
into the winged creature on the horizon, about to take flight?
“I am one who adulterates” – fantastic –
mixing, playing, fun with color & changes. love this poem.