This is a painting of an imaginary female pausing to finish a book as she gets dressed. It happens. I didn’t intend for the painting to illustrate the following poem. Nor did I write the poem to set up the painting. I didn’t realize they fit until just the other day

THE READER

I dive into my book

For one more lap

Before I dress.

 

Eager to finish

what I don’t want to end,

I turn the page.

 

I’ve finished it but sit foreseeing

Futures for the characters

who lived and moved in me and had their being?

 

Their futures fade. I find myself

within my own confusing story wondering

what it’s about and how its going to end.

 

From Reading and Rhyming (forthcoming)