ART SAVES
EXCEPT IN CASE OF FIRE
OR HURRICANE
OR PESTILENCE, OR WAR.
BUT AS SOON AS SAFE ENOUGH
THOSE OF US WHO MUST
WILL MAKE IT,
CERTAIN SURE WE OWN
ITS REALEST MEANING.
WHY DO I PAINT?
I PAINT FOR NEW INVENTION
TO WAKE MY ONLY EYES
AND TO SURPRIZE MY SCHEMATIC BRAIN,
PARADOXICALLY MIXING PAIN
WITH DIZZY GAIN. I PAINT
TO RECONFIGURE EMBLEMATIC CLUMPS
OR VISIT LOVELY ANCIENT FORMS
WHOSE COUSINHOOD WITH COMMON THINGS
RISES QUIZZICALLY FROM EACH
PAINTING BINGE. AND THEN
I NAME WHAT I HAVE MADE,
SLIPPERY CLUES FOR OTHER VIEWERS
SOUVENIRS FOR ME.