I stood bare foot before an empty canvas,
It's blank face taunting me viciously.
Palette in one hand, brush in the other,
I stood, staring into the soul of the white.
Mentally pulling out the image trapped there,
Coaxing, cajoling, relentlessly pursuing it.
I knew it was there, underneath, waiting,
I could be patient, too, a hunter stalking.
This would be a great piece I could tell,
The most difficult always were the best.
The ones I fought for and with always shone,
Glorious in the final outcome, standing out.
These were the ones that were special,
They made it all worthwhile, rewarding.
A glass of merlot dangled between my fingers,
One arm across my stomach as I waited.
My foot rested on my bare calf,
Reminiscent of those ballerina days.
The splotched, splattered t-shirt knotted up,
Cool, evening breeze brushing my bare belly, legs.
A paintbrush held the huge mass of my hair,
Knotted loosely up off of my nape.
I closed my eyes, the wind caressing me,
An image forming in my mind, a portrait.
Swaying slightly to Für Elise still upon one foot,
I let the music kiss my spirit as the image cleared.
Sipping the wine, tingling in my limbs,
I reached for the brush, painting the air.
Graceful Croisé's, Plié's, Arabesque's,
Twirling lightly, painting the air around me.
Poised upon my toes I opened my eyes, gazing at the canvas,
Seeing what I had invisibly painted there.
Dancing to a song that lifts and breaks your heart,
I dipped my brush, began painting your image.
You had been buried there all along, unseen, hidden,
Concealed beneath all the world's chaos, complications.
Pleased to have found you at last under there,
I swiftly brought your spirit to light on my page.
Shades of deep green, hunter, emerald, shamrock,
Lighter moss, celery, spring grass, leaf green.
Royal blue, navy, sapphire, robin's egg, sky blue,
Aqua, teal, every shade between, even some grey.
All these colors touched my brush as I worked,
Your soul appearing before me with each stroke.
A streak of blue across my cheek, down my arm,
Paint dotting my skin, my clothes, still I danced.
Feeling your presence just as I felt the music,
Deep in my bones, in my very heart, needing release.
I painted until I had passed exhaustion,
Not stopping until I had released you from the white.
Hours later, foot back upon calf, I stood back,
Smiling to myself, your soul staring back at me.
I curtsied to you, welcomed you to my world,
A world of frivolity, ballerinas, painted easels.
Twirling to the music, free, happy, I smiled,
I had completed my task, now I could relax.
Watching you, watching me, I would swear you smiled