Painting as a Form of Love
Brush in hand the painter
first dances in surroundings sees
signs of feeling in flight at a touch
tracks its motion deep into
stirred weedy thickets skips away
caught in an illusion a denial
spread flat in its particularity
what is it he seeks but to reach
around blind touch the living
catch what he can as it flees
where he makes a quick sketch
to find one true line a caress
as an entrance to love then
paints it all out rapidfire
underpainting all in grays
that will bury each stroke
beneath others he means to refresh
with color as each stroke is lifted
turned wet to the light of its being
and coaxed to the surface set free
—homage to Rob Herlitz
Paul Hunter
Paul Hunter is a poet, farmer, teacher, and shade-tree mechanic. His new book CLOWNERY: In lieu of a life spent in harness, is kind of an autobiography in prose poems.