poem
Volume 22, Number 3

Through the Alembic of Duarte

Night #1: Somewhere between nightfall and sunrise Duarte falls asleep. At some point Duarte hears a voice: You will paint her. Duarte is not a painter, he has no idea who spoke or who she is, and so he forgets the voice even before he awakes

Night #2: Somewhere between nightfall and sunrise Duarte falls asleep. From fire to fire the images come to Duarte and when he awakes they are burning still. Though Duarte is not a painter, he remembers the voice. He has seen the girl

Night #3: Duarte doesn’t sleep. He has obtained some acrylics and brushes. He has cleared the wall at the end of his bed. In the corner is a little light. From nightfall to sunrise hands blur to release the girl


—R L Swihart