Rule of thumb

Sometimes
           when preparing
a canvas
           it’s best
just to allow
           the basic geometries
of energy and colour
           to take over
not to overthink
           the composition

In this canvas
           the paint has been
thinly applied
           at first with a brush
before being marshalled
           by the palette knife

The blank page
           and the blank canvas
have so much in common :
           the rule is simple
don’t hang back
           if it doesn’t work out start again
but don’t get uptight
           Sometimes she loves you
sometimes she does not
           Get over it

John Lyons

Monday canvas

Air moves in arabesques
           time in hot pursuit
a centrifugal force that runs
           through the blood
Possibilities are endless
           in this life-phase
in the rising fall of love-tides
           in which doors are binary
windows looking glasses
           dreams itinerant

Swirls of colour
           on the canvas
but soon the leaves
           will settle
Today the sun rose
           higher than ever
it stopped the fox
           in its tracks
it changed the tune
           of every bird
as its warm breath
           passed over the land

Breakers on the seashore
           ruffle the pebbles
and suck at the sand :
           there’s always more work
to be done and more love
           to be made

John Lyons

Revised text

Love’s simplicity

The stem
that rises

up from
the earth

green
and fresh

that flowers
and stands

tall
in its delicate

beauty
if but

for a few
brief days

John Lyons