Canvas and Paint

Blank.  White.  Stark.  Ugly.

That is how her canvas starts out.

Devoid of beauty, but full of creation

That which will destroy the bleached barren

 

First, to prime with peach

Slathering, coating, covering that

Ivory ichor that threatens to consume

with something warmer, with a pink tone.

 

Then to high light with yellow.

Dabbing and dotting to decimate the sudden

Shadows.  Where did they come from?  Along with the

angry red spots? Quick, cover them. There, gone

 

Now for a little powder, to dust, the make matte

All that flawless, fake canvas.  There is still kohl to be applied

and liner to be added, gloss to finish up the entire portrait

Of this lovely young woman

 

She won’t leave the house without her canvas painted

Primed, perfected, for she believes that without

all the paint and color and deception

She is plain.  Stark.  White.  ugly.