By Lorraine Walker Williams
Member-at-Large
“She is working now…” — Jane Hirshfield, The Poet
She is working now, the child at 5,
kneeling at the glass table, a box of crayons
behind her on the couch. The sketch pad open
to ideas, she tells me she gets from her brain.
Sun slants through the shutters, illuminates
her face, framing the far-away look she has
when she goes to that place that is not anchored
in geography or the walls of home.
Let us give her a soft carpet to kneel on
with an ocean of flowers and looping lines.
Let us give her a plethora of pens and crayons
to fit her long fingers as she pauses to choose
the colors, for what she tells me will be her
Masterpiece.
Privileged to witness this artist at work, I
imagine she will draw pictures I will never see.
Let her have this time, this making. Let her fill
reams of paper with shapes and color. Let her
work outside the lines. Let her create her
Masterpiece and hold it up as a gift to our
tired, jaded eyes.
Beautiful
Heartfelt
Thank you
I can see it; I can feel it…. I’m there ! This child’s inner world opens for me in this simple description , and the door she swings wide, with its magic , is her private realm . What a privilege she gives us!
I especially love the second stanza of this poem. Five years old, and already going to the place of dreams that all creative people like to visit for as long as possible, until reality interrupts. The final stanzas keep faith with the future! Wonderful poem.
thank you for this inspiring look at inspiration creativity, hope and wisdom.
A beautiful, poignant snapshot of this moment of possibility and optimism.
This is a gorgeous poem, and I can totally relate. As my young granddaughter approaches three years, I exult in watching her create a fantasy tea party or collage. She also enjoys doing “animal work” on her dad’s old portable keyboard and bike repairs with her plastic wrench. Through watching young children, I’m able to recapture that purity of experience, that flow that comes with immersion in a truly creative act. Thank you for sharing this.
This is a lovely poem. The comparison of a child’s artwork to life itself is stunning. I love the title and the ending. “Masterpiece” is truly a beautiful look into the world of a child.
A very unique and wonderful appreciation of a child’s creativity and its effect on an older person! Congratulations!
Your images are so lovely, convey the spirit of the watcher and the child so eloquently. I hope you had this done in calligraphy as gift for that little girl.
What a beautiful and lovely depiction of a child and childhood. The wonder of innocence and the innocence of wonder…
What a lovely poem and observation. The wonder of Innocence and the innocence of wonder…
Wow!
So touching and true. Such a beautiful expression of pure honesty, creativity and honor for a child – and the child in all of us!