The Portrait

A painter began to paint a portrait of a steel faced man,
and as the brush stroked the canvass
the portrait laid victim to the painter’s hand.

There were touches of black in the portrait’s hair
and beard.  Though, gray laced the edge –
White took dominance it appeared.

His hard chiseled face looked strong, but in his eyes
lived fear.  Then touches of color were made, in his
face, as the portrait’s end was near.

It revealed defeat; for the man had only turned old,
as if he had struggled for years –
All in a portrait painted minutes ago.


Copyright © 1998
Written:  8/28/1995