I Realized As I Was Leaving Work
I realized as I was leaving work,
that I had been working the entire day
I had parted my hair on the other side
to cut it that morning,
the result was a whole new look
I placed a neon tye dye bandaid on my right arm
from the accidental fire ring burn
I made from a tshirt two wrist cuffs and a necklet in neon pink
that set off the all burgundy I was wearing
I’ve been creating my self
and something about,
recognizing the value of my work…
A woman screams from the sidewalk
while the hollow twisted tree screams
I’ve caught them both
with my field recorder
As I coordinated the location with
my co worker I referred to the trees
by their painting names, Pop Rackham,
Cathedral Tree, or even by description,
The cluster I painted from a distance
on my birthday
year before last.
What will this one be called?
The Scream?
4 thoughts on "I Realized As I Was Leaving Work"
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I love how the poem turns on ,”I’ve been creating my self”
I agree with Shaun. That line really cinches it. I especially love the referring to the trees by their painting names, almost as though you’re, in part, creating them and, by extension, the world as well. It becomes a pretty concise dissertation on creation, in fact. The mention of the birthday, year before last alludes to regular if not constant recreation and regeneration. Using a field recorder to sustain inspiration, though perhaps this is also in allusion to painting—or further, a very interesting insight into creation, where the lines of what’s there and what’s recorded are blurred. And you end on an Edvard Munch title of a very famous painting, The Scream, which potentially suggests that part of your creating and recreating of things is influenced by history, precedent, and the spirit of old masters. Very interesting. Deceptively simple, but it keeps unfolding all dahlia-ornate.
Thank you both for looking so deeply into the work! I felt like the first line was compelling for me personally. A realization that every kind of creation is my work. I still don’t know what I meant by the Scream. Although I think Munch was capturing intense emotion in a blaze of color, much like myself…
I appreciate so much when people comment what they see. Much like in that Munch painting the Scream is silent until it is felt inside the emotional realm of the viewer
Oh! Cathedral Tree! Please tell that tree help for me next time you’re near them.
This is a marvelous walk through a day in your life. Love the details.
Thank you for reminding us how you witness and move through the world: how you empathize with our comrades on the sidewalk, and much more.
Those painting names for the trees are a sweet gift to us readers.