Tourguide

I slowly edge beneath her shade
careful not to roil the harmony
or cause her to think her ethics compromised
glibness would only hurt my chances
my facile tongue is no imprimatur
she invites me into her deepest thoughts
before telling me there is no bottom

Waking beside her is reason to want tomorrow
knowing her aspirations welds me to today
she taught me to dream walk away from discord
to a point where dawn baths the world in shades of purpose
I was there to witness it breaking
but was not quick enough to pick up the pieces

Still Life

Flowers pose so dutifully
never object to their image on canvas
brushes only want a steady hand and discerning eye
Mary found a way to bring order into her world
to paint a reason for the island she was cast upon
she created what would not disappear
a lasting world of beauty
a repository for the love that was so hard to speak

There was peace in her world of color
the disquiet that haunted her
painted over with each gentle stroke
the need to express her emotions
indelibly rendered in thoughfully chosen scenes
she found that on canvas chaos could be stilled

She has caught up with those who left her behind
because of her art she has not left us
wherever one of her paintings is on display
there her spirit lingers
there is still life

(In loving memory of Mary Bacon Barney, 12-29-1915 / 07-01-2009)