POEM AFTER MERLE ROSEN'S ART

In February, "POSSIBILITY," a poem inspired by one of Merle Rosen's artworks was read during a reading celebrating the artist. Having received the Rosen Family's and Caza Sikes Gallery's permissions to post the inspiring artwork, I'm pleased to share the art and the poem it inspired. My thanks to Dos Madres Press and Grace Curtis for asking me to participate.

POSSIBILITY

Yes

I am

possibility. I am

here with arms

stretched wide 

open

to-

wards what

I know not

but anticipate with

sun warm

upon

my 

heart and

yours. Together we

will

share light.

Look at me

as

I begin

to open eyes.

Oh!

Such colors

on the blanket

you laid out

for me.

You

affirm

my hope

to mature into

color.

I am

mostly blank canvas

now. But we

know I

will

burgundy,

will turquoise,

will glow gold

after

opening eyes

towards a universe

seeing,

acknowledging, welcoming

little ol’ me.

How lovely the

ocean becoming

my

eyes

because I

see water. We

all

want to

be seen, thus

become.

Welcome my

possibility, and I

will

grow into

your cherished rainbow.

Already I’ve begun

with blue,

yellow …

(A Note on Form: This is a poem written in the form of a “Flip-Flop” hay(na)ku after this variation was first named by Vince Gotera. The "Flip-Flop" alternates the 1-, 2-, 3-word count with 3-, 2-, 1-word count of the hay(na)ku tercet.)