PORTRAIT POETRY
THE PAINTER
The painter toils
In open air
To capture light and life.
He communes with Hawthorne
In his sleep
And prays to Sorolla
Like a god.
Painting and Poetry by Susana Youngsteadt
THE DOCTOR
The doctor wears her failures
On her face. The lives unsaved,
The life she might have had.
The unrelenting needs
Of fragile beings.
Behind her eyes
A jaguar crouches.
Painting and Poetry by Susana Youngsteadt
THE ATHLETE
She made the team.
“Elite,” they said. “Olympian.”
Then a broken neck
Unmade her.
Now she watches
her sons run
And feels her body
Soften.
Painting and Poetry by Susana Youngsteadt
THE FISHERMAN
His back is breaking,
His skin burnt.
But he can make
Good money on the
Big boats.
His children are learning English,
And they translate for him.
Painting and Poetry by Susana Youngsteadt
THE GUARDIAN
When I was lost
In the woods,
She stayed with me.
Sometimes
I could feel her.
When I was ready,
She led me out.
Painting and Poetry by Susana Youngsteadt
THE ACROBAT
Grace and presence
At rest, raw power
On the move.
Lightly he dives,
Bounding,
Vaulting.
He seems surprised
When onlookers
Gasp.
Painting and Poetry by Susana Youngsteadt
THE PHILOSOPHER
He knows the meaning
Of meaning.
He sees the nature of
Knowledge.
He accepts the absurdities
Of life
Without despairing.
Painting and Poetry by Susana Youngsteadt
THE SCIENTIST
She believes
In the scientific method
Except when it comes to
Her wardrobe,
Which is random
And unexplainable.
Painting and Poetry by Susana Youngsteadt