We'd like to share a poem by Elaine Terranova who read at the gallery in August. This is from her book Dames Rocket, which was published by Penstroke Press of Rochester, VT in 2012.
Ink Guest
-Artist of the Edo who paid for his lodgings with a sketch
Painter of the icy backbone
of the mountain, of humbled stone, the dots
and dashes of a landscape. Dry, pale ink,
careful layering. Painter of the wind,
the roughened horse's mane. Lifting the bottom
of the groom's poor robe, raising the man's
left hand to hold down a wide-brimmed hat.
Painter entering through an arch
of braided bamboo, at home to steep
some sensha tea. Collector of everyday objects,
a label from a box of face powder,
the carefully observed mouse. Painter
whose name means fullness like a void.
The elimination of painter's names.
Bird and flower painter. Painter of cranes,
symbol of longevity, of irises and autumn grasses,
of a marginal tree intended to brace
the composition. Painter who threads fishermen
like spirits through the channel caused
by a shattering waterfall.
Painter careful of each line laid down,
who yet heaps browns and blues into corners.
Painter who kneels before a six-fold screen,
sketching in growth and death, twisted pine and rabbit.
Painter of scholars convening in the mountains.
"Sit," he says. "Sit for a minute
in your delicate pavilion. Everything
that was here before you will remain after."
Dames Rocket, as well as the books of many of our writers and artists, is available for purchase here in the gallery.
