The 1st of May 2013

He's Sleeping in the Other Room

The sun, tide, wind, water,
Constantly rise and fall,
Be at rest,
now and,
always.

Day 318
Oil on Canvas
Art by Valerie Dowdy
@ www.valeriedowdy.com  

The 28th of April 2013

On the Burning of the Underbrush

I have heard the learned voices explain the greater good,

but with ash on my soles as I walk through the wood,
I feel as skittish as the animals that leave chaotic tracks.

Though, I’m thankful that there’s a soft rain to hide my tears,

as I walk I feel the pain, the lingering smoke attacks

the vicissitudes of my being, and I walk in fears.

Day 253
8x10 oil on canvas
art by: Valerie Dowdy
@ www.valeriedowdy.com
 

The 18th day of April 2013

My Husband

His shoulders slope.
They embody the worn out mountains
Of Appalachia with quiet, eternal hope,
and the coal covered fountains,
or streams that trickle and grope
the ground, rocking with laughter or tears.

His hands rest in a fold.

They are the basket woven by someone’s Grandma Gert,
and the patchwork quilt she sewed,
Or the stitches that healed the hurt
they’re ready to pray for reasons brought by the years.

His eyes shine.
They are the bright sun in the blue sky, and the stars at night.
Beneath the rock, downward, he goes,
but his eyes are brighter than his head light--
a little lamp that leads him. He knows
the noises of the deep, black, below-ground fears.

His muscle and bone, carry me to bed.
His skin and lips, make my cheeks turn red.
His body and soul are tangled with mine, until we’re dead.

Day 19 by Valerie Dowdy
8x10 oils
$100
@ www.valeriedowdy.com
 

The 30th day of March 2013

Day 30: Sea Fever
Art by: Valerie Dowdy
@ www.valeriedowdy.com

The Wind Spoke

Sitting on the edge of the water, watching the lines,
The wind spoke.
She was going on so wild the waters’ surface broke.
We listened to a couple yarns, and pulled tight our cloak.
It’s the kind of conversation that redefines.

The 29th day of March 2013

Day 309
12 x 12 oil/acrylic/metallic on canvas
Art by: Valerie Dowdy
@ www.valeriedowdy.com

Yesterday mornin'
before the sun I rose
To come a-talkin'
with the moon, who knows,
like all good friends, my every worry.
I bore to him my soul,
in joy and in fury,
and we talked til I was whole, again.

The 28th day of March 2013

Day 68
18x24 Oil on Canvas
Art by: Valerie Dowdy
@ www.valeriedowdy.com
 

Sky Fire

Beneath transparentpools
of wat'ry color
that compose the iris
of the eye,
Lies a flame
that is a star
burning int he midnight sky,
and toiling to thrive.

Suddenly is plucked
from it's dark abyss,
and in the light
of the world, it cannot shine.

Though it is invisible;
it burns.
I feel its fury divin,
like heaven and hell combined.

I would be captured by the flame
Was I not afraid.
Fear makes me shy.
I could never reach the midnight sky...

But a smoldering star
Within me grows.
it's just a glimmer, a little light
That might
take its place one day in the sky.