jdubqca

poetry by j matthew waters

the street artist and the young woman


it was the wrong shade of blue
he kept telling himself
but he kept on with the brush
and the red wine and cigarillo

passersby strolled by like museum goers
some pausing on occasion
to remark about the unfinished piece

you’re a natural beauty he told the young
woman in the yellow summer dress
sitting on a short stool and barely smiling

but there is a problem he went on to say
I am not happy with your eyes

why is that she asked worriedly
quickly rising to her feet

they’re the wrong shade of blue
he began to explain
but as he spoke her shoulders eased
and she smiled and soaked in the
painting for the very first time

oh no she said
you did a wonderful job
they’re beautiful

they’re the wrong shade of blue
he repeated
telling her to take it away
without charge
telling her to get it out of his sight
before doing something regrettable


july two thousand sixteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

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10 thoughts on “the street artist and the young woman

  1. Norma Waters's avatarNorma Waters on said:

    Nice poem

  2. Rose Red's avatarPleasant Street on said:

    Those artists- so temperamental ^_^

  3. Lara/Trace's avatarLara/Trace on said:

    You are so good, profound, good!

  4. I have a feeling she’d better leave… love it

  5. I love the story telling in this John! Kind of sad though. 😦 Perfectionism is hard to control for some! 🙂

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