winter inspiration

To a young painter

Trust yourself.
Your vision.
Your hand.
And when your eyes wander in comparison,

close them.

When the world wants you to strategize,
do not apologize for letting your
heart lead, for letting your
canvas bleed out
all your questions
and all your fears,
all the desires that you clutch.
You can throw them into the world
like a great flying disc,
letting them land in light and shadow
and colors that surprise.
In images that do not apologize for
their honesty.

Give yourself.
Your vision.
Your hand.
And when your eyes see what is true,

open them.

* * * * * * *

The poem above is by the inimitable Jen Lee.  Read more of her work here, and if, like me, you want more, check out Solstice:  Stories of Light in the Dark, an audio CD of a collection of her short stories.

Song:  Fragile by Jason Castro