The Painter's heart

[alycewilson]

This is my LJ Idol entry for this week, with the topic of "Sankofa." Sankofa is an African word from the Akan tribe in Ghana. The literal translation of the word and the symbol is “it is not taboo to fetch what is at risk of being left behind.”

The Painter's Heart
(for Sarah)


An American Kestrel, an Osprey,
a Steller's Jay, they all perch
on our bookshelf, watching over our living room.
Wood grain visible beneath your
measured paint strokes. Your neat handwriting
declaring each painting's message:
Happy birthday, love Sarah.

I had just lost my mother when you
came into my life, filling in the gap
perfectly, that bright, ragged hole,
swelling it with your cheerful, smart,
creative presence. You smiled every time
I mentioned this, giving freely
of your love. You would hug me
through the phone, wish your grandson
love to the Moon and Back. (A little
competition you two would hold. He loved
you to Mars. You loved him to the ends
of the universe.)

Of the too-few days in person, my favorite
was the day we spent at the Brandywine River
Museum in Chadd's Ford, a showcase
for the work of another American artist, Andrew
Wyeth. We took the studio tour, marveled
at the workspace, still in place. The paints
waiting for a phantom hand. We made our way
through every wing of the museum, studied
each work and talked about our favorites. Even
ate dinner at Wyeth's favorite watering hole,
down the road, and joked about whether his
ghost would visit that evening.

You always smiled like sunshine, but my favorite
photos from that day are you, caught unaware,
studying a Wyeth painting. The artist deep
in thought and appreciation.

Love was your art. You didn't give yourself
nearly enough credit for how skilled you were
at sharing it. With family, with the friends
you introduced by name when we visited. You knew
the entire small town. Not just knew them, either.
You held them all in your heart. Painted
carefully and catalogued. Stretching to the
Moon, and Back again.

~~~

I wrote this for Sarah's memorial service, held a couple weeks ago at her sister's house near their childhood home in Cape Cod. I couldn't help tearing up while reading, and many guests told me how much they loved it. So many people shared similar experiences with her: how she was an adventurous spirit, always driven by creativity and love. We are so lucky to have known her, and to be able to hold onto these memories, these fragments of a wonderful human being.

Comments

[alycewilson]

Here's a painting by Sarah, which I wasn't able to embed:

Swainson's Hawks

I also just realized that I didn't state outright above that she was my husband's mother.

[reidharriscooper]

Without stating it out right in the poetry I got the impression you were speaking of mother-in-law. I wasn't positive but there's something in the language.
I appreciate the clarification.
I think me telling you the words showed this if not directly lets you know how truly powerful this piece is.

[alycewilson]

That's great to hear! As a poet, I like to be able to leave those "fruitful spaces" where people can interpret things their own way, but in this case I simply forgot to spell out who she was in the entry. I'm glad you read the comment.

[muchtooarrogant]

This was a beautiful memorial. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Dan

[alycewilson]

Thanks, Dan. I hope that next week's topic takes me someplace more cheerful, but this was a natural fit for this week's prompt.

[bleodswean]

This is so lovely, A. And what an unbelievable tribute to a woman who sounds amazing. I'm so happy you shared that piece of her art - talented and relatable. I'm sorry for your loss. *hugs*

[alycewilson]

Thank you so much! She was very talented and a true lover of nature. She also loved to paint horses, landscapes, and she did a series of painting inspired by medieval icon paintings, with saints and halos of gold.

[adoptedwriter]

Hugs. Beautiful!

[alycewilson]

Thank you so much! She was a lovely person. Whenever the phone rings on Sunday evenings, I still think it's her, calling us.

[nicholewithanh]

How wonderful to have known someone so creative and full of love. Thanks for sharing!

[alycewilson]

Thank you. She was my mother-in-law, which I just realized I didn't say explicitly in the entry, and now it's too late to add it. But she was like a second mother to me in the time I knew her.

[roina_arwen]

A lovely poem to memorialize Sarah. Thank you for sharing.

[alycewilson]

Thank you! She was truly a bright soul.

[n3m3sis43]

This was beautiful! I’m so sorry for your loss. She was clearly very special.

[alycewilson]

She certainly was. We're so lucky we got to know her.

[halfshellvenus]

This is a lovely tribute to your husband's mother. I'm glad she and your family gave each other so much in the time you had together.

[alycewilson]

Me, too! I'm glad you saw the comment. I didn't realize until the poll went up that I hadn't spelled out exactly who she was to me.

[mollywheezy]

IT's so hard to lose people we love. This is a beautiful tribute!

[alycewilson]

Thanks very much. It truly is hard, but I feel her presence at times. When I watch the geese flying overhead, for example.

[fausts_dream]

My condolences, this is the kind of eloquent but heartfelt tribute I would expect from you.

My favorite moment is "Love was her art". I have been lucky to know a few like that.

[alycewilson]

Aww, thank you! And I'm glad you've also known people like her. She was a ray of sunshine, even when she was down or worried.

[thephantomq]

<3 Sarah sounds like she had been a wonderful person. This is a nice little tribute to her.

[alycewilson]

Thanks so much! She really was special. I'm glad to have known her.

[chasing_silver]

A really lovely memorial.

[alycewilson]

Thank you so much!

[pixiebelle]

What a beautiful tribute ❤️

[alycewilson]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you think so.

[erulissedances]

I absolutely ADORE your final paragraph. You totally brought her to life for anyone reading this tribute.

- Erulisse (one L)

[alycewilson]

Thanks so much! I wanted to put it in more context for everyone. The memorial was a beautiful day, with just a little wind, and a lot of people gathered in a backyard ceremony under a tent to share stories about her.

[murielle]

What a beautiful tribute! Thank you so much for sharing it with us. <3

[xeena]

This is such a beautiful tribute to someone you loved so much!