I soothe the chapped
surfaces of my watercolors
with a camel-hair brush.
As it strokes the paper,
it leaves a soul-like imprint
on an endless prairie
of white. And as
the strokes become longer,
wider, whole worlds
take shape as I labor over them.
Spindly brush hairs fan out
to cover more air-like paper.
The paper is now hung
on the wall. It wears
its new colors proudly,
as if it has saved a life.
"Painting" won first place in the Children's Division of the Festival 2007 Literary Awards sponsored by on-the-town magazine.