Pondering the Yamahira exhibit
deconstruction is an art form
painted canvases unwoven
monochrome cotton fibers rehung
a series of obverse pairs
in opposite orientation
horizontal now vertical
suspended from the ceiling
elliptical strands that can move
harkening to boats
or birds
even a twist of pony-tailed hair
just about every aspect of what
we expect from a painted canvas
altered to suit the artist’s edge
he who dared to deconstruct a solid surface
who dared to take a knife ever so gently
and make that first slice.
I dreamt of my pony-tailed youth
on the afternoon we sailed Lake Couer d’Alene
awoke to black crows noisily hopping about their nest
in the eaves outside our room
in a bed unmussed from passionless sleep
we too have become obverse pairs
neither one of us brave enough to make the first slice.