March 2020
Tom Montag
tmmontag@centurylink.net
tmmontag@centurylink.net
Author's Note
"The Woman in an Imaginary Painting" is a series that has been coming in a rush. Imagining a painting and the woman in
it allows me to look at (and to say) things that otherwise might not occur to me. I don't know what started this, nor
how it will end, but here we go, for as long as she continues. Poets may think they are in charge of their work, but
really they're not, as this series is proving to me daily.
Three Poems
from "The Woman in an Imaginary Painting" series
Stay simple
and square
to the world
she tells
herself. Let
the light show
what darkness
wants. The sin
is wasting
loveliness.
Desire is
its own
happiness.
Waiting is
half the
pleasure.
Release has
an iron taste.
_____________________
Every painting
is the only
painting, the artist
says. This woman
is the only
woman. I have
put all I know
into her. There is
nothing left
on the palette,
nothing left
in my heart. She
is all I know
of anything.
_____________________
Because she was patient
she posed for him.
Because she could sit for long stretches.
Because the artist made her laugh.
Because she always loved art
she posed for him.
Because it was unlike anything she had ever done.
Because she wanted to impress her friends.
Because life is short
she posed for him.
Because there are no promises.
Because it is a way to live forever
and death is a door that only closes.
©2020 Tom Montag
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