Seen Poem by Erin Cowart

I have painted you in the brightest yellows
Green and golden light that shines

A million prisms reflect the light of you in my life
A beam this way
A ray that
And a million more
Reflected to my soul

All my thoughts of you in a forgiving dance

Yes I have painted you in my mind
But a million more times you have painted yourself

Short angry stokes of black and red
The deepest of browns and the solemn of purple
All against the backdrop
Of bruises and wounds
That will not heal

Shown yourself to me time and time again
And time and time again I have turned my face
Unwilling to see

Who cannot accept the darkness?
Who cannot accept the truth?

Lovers of light always see the light
And when the shadows come as they always do
It is a shock

Yes I have painted you a million time
But never in truth

So today in the light of truth
I will relinquish control of the brush
And allow you to paint your truth

Truth of me
Truth of light
Truth of dark
Truth of love

I will turn my face to your canvas
And allow you to speak
I wonder
What you will say