the painter begins with her first layer
a mixture of browns, greens, greys and whites
there’s nothing much to it
except for background and potential
next comes the outlines
a figure of shapes and sizes
she sketches and paints
and the scene begins to come alive
then she starts to fill in the darks
the lows of the painting
she builds and builds and builds
finally adding the lights
the life of her painting
she takes a step back
admiring the canvas of whites, greys and blacks
the darks and lights contrast together
but somehow the painting just makes sense
a woman stares back at her
a book in her hand
her heart is made from jigsaw puzzles
her face, painted with thin scars from battles of the past
I stare at myself again
and i smile
for my life is complete
the book is coming to an end
the pieces falling into place
the scars have healed, adding to her beauty
and the cycle finally comes to a close
– the life cycle of escapism