THE PERFUME OF PROSE PAINTINGS
Dedicated to the Great Painter, Claude Monet
(Written in 1997)




To create prose

Like Monet painted

His gentle impressions,

Is to search for peace

In this unquiet life.



It is so difficult to find serenity

Amidst so much suffering, pain and death,

While ignorance, vindictiveness and retaliation

Surround, ensnare, falsely discredit, and besiege us,

To the hindrance of our discovery and enjoyment of peace.



But as the heart and soul gazes into the beautiful paintings,

Of such transcendence as Monet's tender conveyances,

It finds that its entire being resonates happiness,

And with the meager moments of true joy

True artists unearth in this world.



So, too, word painter's

Find very little precious peace,

In a world full of violence and brutality,

Agonizing to attain some true contentment and,

To experience and share some real love.