Tuesday, September 22, 2009

And yes, I've been quiet lately; contemplative.
Last Wednesday I accompanied R. to his cardiologist
appointment, where he was give the green light
to resume his life. Happiness! Time to let out
a breath, the one I've held in since the break-in
on Memorial Day, and held since. Too much, I say.

And yet. The first day of fall and it's officially 88 degrees
and the sun, the air, is perfect: not humid, not smoggy,
just a clear sail into autumn. Golden days, these.

---

Scrubbed and scrubbed my fingers at the end
of my workday and still they hold remnants of paint:
irridescent Aztec gold, duochrome bronze,
quinacridone violet. A daily scourge is lamp-black --
no more or less of anything in comparison
to the other colors, but it vexes me,
challenges me, tests any shred of patience
I may hold in reserve. Sullen, intransigent and cocky --
it is the absence of a pearl, a dearth of Champagne,
drugged sleep. Never chocolate wrapped in gold foil.
Never the velvet underside of the cat's paw.

5 comments:

  1. That's great news about R and yes, you're finally through to the other side.

    Don't you wear gloves?

    You say it's the first day of Fall? I don't understand; our Seasons always start on the first day of the month; Dec, Mar, June, Sept.

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  2. Alaine -- I didn't know this about your seasons! I've always been amused by the notion that a particular season starts on a particular day...it seems so much more nebulous than that.

    And gloves, no. Too much detail work which actually involves my fingertips.
    But perhaps I should consider them.

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  3. Very happy to read that R was given the all clear. My family went through a similar situation over this summer but there was also good news at the end. Good luck with the paint scrubbin'!

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  4. any metallic paint calls for the use of gloves....all those heavy metal paints leak into your skin....as a painter I don't use gloves but I don't allow any paint to stay on my hands even for a minute.
    Beautifully written by the way, as usual.

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  5. I totally agree with Ima Wizer--protect yourself!

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