A new poem inspired by the tragic events unfolding in Ukraine and two new paintings inspired by recent travel to North Carolina.
TONIGHT THE STARS
1.
A million fireflies
animate the constellations:
Orion’s Belt, Southern Cross
Big Dipper, bright white stars
feed me solace.
How small I am. Content,
safe in my cocoon.
Such a close night.
Black sky. Silver sliver moon.
Lying on a chaise,
in this wide courtyard,
cuddled in a furry blanket,
feeling the approach of spring
in this silent east end garden.
Look up.
A hymn of glory above.
2.
This afternoon, heroic President Zelensky
in his green Resistance T-shirt
called upon the world
to help bring back to Ukraine,
silent skies.
His character, his prescience, bravery,
his terrifying words,
warn us if his country burns,
the world will burn.
The video of death,
bodies, towns in ruins.
Carnage in Mariupol, missiles in Lviv,
shelters gutted;
people dumping the slaughtered
into trenches they have dug.
Genocide in beloved country.
They’re murdering babies
in my mother’s birthplace.
Old people, sick ones, expectant mothers.
The crying and the courage.
Trapped, no food, no water,
bombs and fires.
Children. Hundreds of children.
Refugees and injuries,
sudden devastation of all they’ve known.
Just a month ago these victims of insanity
broke bread around their daily table,
abundant food and family, innocence and laughter.
On such a night as this.
You can see Blue Ridge Mountains and other pieces at two upcoming shows at Ashawagh Hall in East Hampton, NY. At Art Groove 2022 on Saturday, April 9th and Sunday, April 10th, and at Mannix Contemporary’s Women's Show 2022 on Saturday, May 7th and Sunday, May 8th.