leonardcohenforum.com

~almost qualifies as a realio trulio poem! regards, Laurie

Chris "Topher" Columbus Discovers Finger Painting

The young boy wearing the too big, old shirt
gazed eye level at the table where his
mother placed a sheet of paper cut from
a roll; holding down the edges with two
bronze gargoyles she found on a shelf. Topher
watched, mesmerized as she dropped globs of ocean
blue goo from a plastic spoon. It shuddered

and settled like islands of blue pudding
located on an undiscovered white
sea. Chris' mother rolled his sleeves snuggly
around his arms and helped him climb into
the chair. Looking for approval and courage
to quell his apprehension he gazed at
his mother, his North Star for guidance.

She smiled and encouraged the venture, while noting
his hands would never be this small again.
Armed with confidence and his mother's blessing
he embarked in a life changing act, launching
a high arcing splat made by two small palms
and a blue-freckled boy who just discovered
the important world of finger painting.

The birth of an artist. (Much better than discovering continents, btw...)

And a mother who sees the essential things: "his hands would never be this small again".

And a poet who shows eye-opening details.

I like this "almost realio trulio" approach.

Thanks for sharing, Laurie.

Cheers
tom

thanks tom~

It was fun playing with the double entendre of the present day lad and his famous namesake. Also, being pure fiction, it was a leap from my usual confessional stuff.

Appreciate your comments.

L
p.s. my favorite part is the 'gargoyles' being placed on the 'flat' paper.