If I could paint
the most necessary painting
a portrait setting
the Dutch Masters to shame
it would be you
If I could have my fingers play
in perfect rhythms and changes across
the strings and frets
a pure and balanced melody
it would be you
If I could make my
feet to move
and carry me across the floor
with grace and sureness in the dance
it would be you
But I fingerpaint
play the kazoo
and crawl everywhere I go
And there’s no making of mine
that will make you mine
and no more need be said.
(Published in Weekly Alibi, Vol. 9, No. 6, Feb. 10-16, 2000. Copyright 2000, 2023 by Tetman Callis.)