Water, 36"hx60"w, oil on canvas, 2009

“Poem Painting" series. These works were created in response to the sonnet sequence "Key Fallen to Blue" by Richard Robbins, from Other Americas published by Blueroad Press, copyright© 2010.

Key Fallen to Blue

1.  Anniversary

One day, at the far reaches of regret,
he’ll forget the rod snapped down, its mad hop,
boat thrown into neutral and the hook set,
his slow reel to keep the kokanee’s lip

from tearing against wave-lift, against his
steady pulling and its own. He’ll forget
the fish landed, blessing the hands with greasy
silver. On the last day, he’ll forget

smoked salmon blessing the table and tongue.
Pitch and lilac lathered the air. This was
the way he presented the gift of you
to his own, the body two became just
pieces then, simple meals in the sun,
nothing lost, a key fallen to deepest blue.