Tuesday, September 9, 2014

ART IMITATES LIFE OR VICE VERSA


Maddied 2611 - Photobucket






Long ago I saw a painting in a gallery.
Its canvas painted totally black except
for tiny white speck humbly resting in lower right. 
The title may have been, "Even Darkness has Light."

Perhaps this wasn't the best painting I saw that day. 
Yet for long, I stood staring
in silent recognition of the darkness that I was,
though in no corner of myself did I suspect
there existed a light dot. 

Bleak dark fear permeated my soul
when you, my daughter dear, seemed gone
from all my hopes, I surrendered to you,
retreated, all interventions had failed.
I dropped my powerless hands, 
was swallowed by abyss of despair, 

no air,
nor water, or fire, no visible light.

But it was there.
It grew, same as you, once you discovered your glow.
Today, I can paint my own portrait bright, yours too
with only a few pinhead dark spots that balance a good life.



(I do remember seeing such a painting during a time when my young daughter was having many, many troubles.  This is the first time I ever allude to this period in her life and mine in writing.  It was such a painful time.  I did write plenty then, but only in my journal.  Glad the light days are here.)


(Submitted to Dverse Poets.)

28 comments:

  1. I happy to read that the light days are here ~ I like how you focus on that light dot, and the power that such dot can grow into you & that of your daughter ~

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  2. What a beautiful write about the dark turned light.

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  3. This is beautiful, powerful and true.
    I am so very happy that you and your daughter have found your way to the light again.

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  4. Happy that the dark turned into light for you and your daughter. Beautiful.

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  5. This caught me off-guard, Myrna...gave me a lump in my throat. Wonderful progression from the abstract concept to the nitty gritty reality you faced with your daughter.

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  6. wow, I am blown away by this. It goes to show, that no matter how plain or meaningless a piece of art may seem, it could bring about a profoundness in the viewer. Glad that dot of light remained throughout those dark days for you & your daughter. Peace.

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  7. How incredible to share good news, the blossoming of white light, the journey out of darkness, the expansion of one tiny white dot, to a canvas of hopeful white, dotted now with specks of pepper.

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  8. I know what that painting meant to you (my son) and I salute you both for surviving...wonderful metaphor and thanks for sharing a glimpse into the pain and the love between you both. ;)

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  9. This is lovely Myrna, from darkness there came a light for you. Beautifully expressed.

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  10. "Today, I can paint my own portrait bright, yours too
    with only a few pinhead dark spots that balance a good life." That makes me so happy for you and your daughter. Thank you for opening your heart to us.

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  11. that painting was powerful - how many painting do we clearly remember - only those that touch us. Glad you are in the light now.

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  12. In the darkest days of light of my mother who never really saw darkness in her life only tension and worry at times..always told me..this too will pass..

    It's amazing what mothers know..i didn't trust her words then..but her impossible prayers always come true..

    Knowing they will..is a way for dreams truly to be...

    Now i am happy.. i too have that spirit free..an apple fallen back to the tree of love...a place only a mother can nurture truly as tree of life...

    Without real love mothers..nothing will do...

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  13. when our kids go through rough times it almost cracks a parent - i can relate to this myrna - there was a time that was very difficult with my son - it was so painful and i had many fears - good to be reminded that even the deepest darkness holds light even though we cannot see it in such moments

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  14. I'm glad that the darkness left.. And the inclusion of that painting is such a strong connection.. To find that pinhole might be the start to find the exit..

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  15. i can paint my portrait bright..i liked the way you have woven the lines with the painting...

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  16. A good analogy and wonderful to see that you can now write so powerfully about a time that must have been most challenging.

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  17. Excellent example of the darkness changing to light! It is hard, at the times of 'dark' with one's child to think beyond the desolation of the 'now.' Sometimes, as in yours, there is a happy ending, though you have let us know they were turbulent times. I am so glad all is well now! Smiles.

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  18. I like your comparison in the painting and how you changed your focus to go with light and see resolutions.

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  19. I like how you take us from the painting to your own personal story and then back to a totally different painting. How relieved you must feel now!

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  20. What a lovely story and metaphor - so glad the picture is bright now, with only a few pinheads of darkness (just enough to remind us how lucky we are).

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  21. This is a wonderful share Myrna and specially the painting that had stayed with you all these years in memory...a mother's love is the light that dispels the darkness of her child's pathway...

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  22. You have captured the darkest of days, but, that one little dot was a reminder that there is light somewhere and light brings hope.

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  23. painting and the shadow and the light and everything are very good for this assignment

    Notes From A Metro Line

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  24. What an inspiration: the painting and the poem telling your story!

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  25. An inspiring poetic portrait of dark times...yet hopeful and ending in brilliance!

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  26. Lucky you! And how well art and color holds this story that can only be used in poems when tranquility is reached.

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  27. This is lovely. I like how you built from the painting and in the end turned it around to be the inverse of what it was. Very nicely done!

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