Poets Corner: Island Painters
Island Painters
Yes, I called two others
They came to give me estimates
but never showed up to work
On 'Island-time' no doubt
Probably went fishing with Janet
casting their lines on the open sea
preferring their rods to a heavy sander on a hot ladder
Who can blame them?
I wasted two summers
waiting
while my trim flaked to the bare wood
This year I got lucky
Nick Huff showed up
albeit a few months later
but none the less here
with all his ladders, brushes and fillers
sanders, tarps and scrapers
got right to the task
braved the long ladder up to the high peaks
despite summer heat and glare
This morning
a bee darted from the cornice
and stung him on the cheek
The ice pack eased his pain
but his eyelid still swelled
and the work day ended early
As he headed back up to Aquinnah
I couldn't help thinking
what a gift it is to know
like the calm after a storm
Nick will return
Ruth Major
Ruth Major, an oil painter and writer, is working on a collection of poems called "Islander."
The Martha's Vineyard Times welcomes contributions to Poet's Corner. Dan Waters, former poet laureate of West Tisbury, will select poems to be published here. Submissions should be directed to dan@indianhillpress.com.
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