It came to me in a flash
as I saw your black body
escaping past the marsh,
the others turned toward me,
running too, that you alone
saw away past the mire
perhaps a thing to fear,
perhaps a deeper knowing,
perhaps the future
unraveling like a flower,
or a tornado whipping us under.
I had hoped you knew
what was on the other side.
But of course then you would
have stopped and returned,
knowing now what it was.
So you are not magic,
but like me running blind
into the unmarked field,
into the dark, fretting
whether to fear, slipping
on our own nerves.
———————-
Another for Sandra. A mural by Kerry James Marshall outside a museum caught my eye, and there she was again.
Poems from in between 
7 responses to “Why is the woman with the dreadlocks looking away?”
I like what you did with ekphrasis–so many questions. You’ve created a mysterious, poignant mood.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Very much appreciated.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This:
So you are not magic,
but like me running blind
into the unmarked field,
into the dark, fretting
Frustration at not knowing, at the wrongness of things…The two “un” words struck me especially.
LikeLike
You always pick up those subtle patterns that I am not sure I can take credit for. Thanks for being such a thoughtful reader. 🙂
LikeLike
i enjoyed seeing how your poem enters the art work to create another work of art. these lines: “perhaps a thing to fear,/ perhaps a deeper knowing” are so evocative. it makes me think about how often the world presents us with the unknown. i also wonder if a deeper knowing might be something to fear, as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for this. What an interesting insight. I had not thought of that, but yes, the unknown (inside or outside of us) sparks a fair amount of fear, for sure. So we need to be constantly willing to face it, or else we shut down completely, don’t we?
LikeLiked by 1 person
i think so. and as poets i believe we have to be willing to face the unknown, sometimes in our selves, or else we are just cranking out “verse.”
LikeLiked by 1 person