poem by Terry-Anya Hayes responding to the painting.

Crossing/

The trick is, stay busy/

wash the laundry again/

in the river of blood. Nothing/

is what you've got now, nothing/

in the pitcher or the small bowl —/


Meanwhile on the other side,/

see their sun shine, their sheets/

remember beds, even their stones/

sharper and more plentiful./   


Best not to look./ 

Best to stretch and fold,/

mind on empty, blue with —/

is it cold?/


2018