essence (poetry)

teach me how 

        to paint pure, unrivaled joy.

not the song 

        of songbirds perched in the trees,

nor the shouts 

        of children’s laughter in the streets,

but the music 

        of unrivaled contentment 

& nothing more.

teach me how 

        to paint the smell of home.

not of chocolate chip cookies 

        baking, golden-brown in the oven,

nor of laundry detergent

        lingering on our cotton clothes,

but the scent 

        of familiarity & peace

& nothing more.

teach me how 

        to paint a tree,

not the yellow-green leaves

        that grow on the branches,

nor the rough bark

        that swirls up its trunk,

but the life of a being

        so deep-rooted & strong

& nothing more.

teach me how

        to paint essence

& nothing more.

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Inspired by Agnes Martin's Paintings and John Green's review of them on the podcast The Anthropocene Reviewed.