The World-whirler
made me this way.
he made me to throw words
like he does.
Why do I smear colors onto a white page
without art lessons?
Why do I pretend
I am capturing the ocean?
A slice of tree and sharpened led make
letters on a page.
Here's a drip for you:
Ocean.
I said wave, splash, blue, foam -
don't you see it?
I look like Phaeton
invited to drive the god's chariot.
Language is too powerful
for mortals
but he puts the thunderbolts
in our hands
anyway.
Some afternoons I practice throwing thunderbolts
with him.
Words whirl
from our lips.
He covers the sky with clouds; I
cover my paper with letters.
My father is an artist and I want to be just like him.
He drew the Mona Lisa, but I don't understand
why He made her look so serious.
I just graduated from Kindergarten
and my father is very proud of me.
I drew my mother's face with pink and purple crayons and he put the picture
over the Mona Lisa.
He said I draw like a first grader now.
