The Surprise of Sideways

original painting
acrylic, pencil and pastel on stretched canvas 
102 x 102 cm 

there are some things
long sat 
in the pull apart, put together again pile
they wait for repair - 
a dot of glue, a patch, a salve, a stitch

and so they come
with that which wants repairing 
to the one who knows what mends

surprisingly, they say of the experience when asked
that there was no work lamp or bench, or tools
only a garden with soil and seeds

and a request
to tilt the head sideways 
and eye closely the things in need of repair

she sprinkled soil in one ear
filling it full up and planting seeds
patting them firmly to be sure

and then came the instruction -
with each washing give some water
with each day let in sun
with each dream will the wander
with each song sing it sung

unsurprisingly, they say of the experience when asked
that soil feels strange in ears at first
that what grew was beautiful
and that a tilted head and a sideways sight
makes everything look new again

Would you like to hear me tell the story of The Surprise of Sideways? Tap play...

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