7/15/2010

Seeing in the Dark


A moment of youthful blindness
Stole my ability to see.
A foolish choice 
Took everything away,
Leaving me nothing to look at
But the walls and bars surrounding me.
I close my eyes and picture it,
All I once had when free,
And brush in hand,
I paint it back,
To adorn my new reality.

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This was written for Friday Flash 55, hosted by G-Man.  Have something to say in exactly 55 words?  G-Man will listen.
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18 comments:

  1. sounds like someone that is starting to see again. i think painting is great therapy as well and if we can encourage that behind those bars i think it is a good thing....nice 55.

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  2. No matter where we are we can be free in spirit. nicely done.

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  3. Very well done. Maybe a lesson well learned here. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Well done. Have a wonderful Friday :)

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  4. I'm willing to bet that there's more than one prison artist that sees it exactly that way.

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  5. Patti...
    This hits you right between the eyes!
    Excellent 55 My Friend.
    Thank you so much for playing today..You Rock!
    Have a Kick Ass Week-End...G

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  6. Agree with G-Man - hit me also right between the eyes - couldn't have expressed it better!

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  7. I remember in the Clint Eastwood movie "Escape From Alcatraz" when the warden revoked Doc's painting privledges. Later Doc goes into the workshop and cuts off his own fingers with a hatchet. (Van Gogh wasn't the only artist who was a cut above)

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  8. Youthful blindness is such a scary thing. I asked my mother how she endured my own youth. She said she got lucky.

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  9. Very nice, but I think I would rather not have to paint my new reality. :)

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  10. Youthful blindness is something that happened to many of us- but only some of us are caught. You captured this well!

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  11. Thanks, everyone. I suspect that painting can help a prisoner hold onto to sanity.

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  12. Wow. You fit a whole story in that 55 and tied it all up with a thread of hope. Nice job.

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  13. This is beautiful in such short words. I'm glad you have your happiness at last...

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  14. What a fabulous 55. The choices we make and the consequences we suffer. So well done, PattiKen. I hope one day this person feels they can paint in color again.

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  15. Pain(t) the sin away... Sadly, my evil employer expects me to work occasionally for my wages and this week has meant a whole lot of lobbying, prize-giving, speech-making, and back-room politicking - oh and lots of trains and planes. So thanks for dropping by and the comments. I would add that the story has no reference to anyone I know - living or dead. And that mean my wife...because she reads the blog.

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  16. This is really beautiful, enjoyed it :)

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  17. Perfect photo for this 55! I'm always astounded at the artwork of prisoners. The watercolor and oil paintings in some of the cells at Alcatraz just knocked me speechless.

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Thoughts? I would love to hear from you.