Commission

I am commissioned to paint a portrait of an artist,

A prince among men.

I would first sketch out the proportions,

the lighting

And try as I may,

every angle—such a puzzle for copying!

Shading, so delicate, too,

To balance the lights and darks so well

As he can—

It’s hard.

Drawing up the lines of his life as he did

Measure,

measure

line—

Steadier hands than mine

Should copy down the works of his hands,

Strength under control.

Oh, how clear my mind’s eye sees

The castles he architected—

Trifles, to him

But stretching to the sky to me.

It’s done.

I present it—

“Look what I made, Daddy.”

Taking it with a broad sweep of a smile,

He places it on his special shelf—

The one just for his little girl’s gifts.

{I wrote this poem for my Daddy's birthday, which is in February. His careless, procrastinating daughter, however, did not get his cards sent in the mail until earlier this week. He got them today, so now I can post it here for you to read about my darling Daddy without spoiling his surprise.}