I used to read the dictionary when I was a kid. When I found a word I really liked I would write a poem to include it. I recently bought a physical, real life dictionary and started this practice again. Finding a word is like a conjuring.
Words have always been an important part of my paintings. I often write before I paint. I wonder if having words on my paintings would be at all interesting. Maybe I'll write poems to my paintings. And paint pictures for my poems. Maybe all they both ever wanted was to be together. I came across the word "sword" in the dictionary and wrote this:
the words I left behind with you
were wooden words.
splintered and dull.
hollow.
I wanted to leave you with
metallic words.
words that reflected
you back to you.
hard edged and mirrored.
sharp.
swords.