ArtSpeak! Portraits poem "The Lady Confesses"

Hello and Happy National Poetry Month! Here it is, day 2 of ARTSPEAK!: Portraits, my National Poetry Month poem-a- day project, during which I am looking, listening with my spirit ear, and asking these subject to share with me their secrets.

But first: be sure to check out the Tabatha's line of our 2017 Progressive Poem over at The Opposite of Indifference!

And here are the poems so far:

"Mona Lisa in Love"

Today I've got another woman for you -- "Portrait of a Lady with Mask and Cherries" by Benjamin Wilson. She's not famous like yesterday's Mona Lisa. And instead of the Mona Lisa's mystery, she's got an air of defiance, or challenge about her. Here is what she told me about herself:

The Lady Confesses

-after "Portrait of a Lady with Mask and Cherries" by Benjamin Wilson

You want to know

who I really am,

without the mask?

I thought you'd

never ask.

Sometimes

my mouth is tart

as these cherries.

I've got pits

hard enough to crack

your teeth.

See how I color

your fingertips

and lips?

Even sweetness

can leave a stain.

- Irene Latham

--------

Don't let those Boy Scout uniforms
fool you...

Readers, I know exactly where this poem comes from! The other day a friend said how I seemed so sweet, but I have a wee mean streak. I confessed to her that once upon a time, my brothers might have called me "Mean Irene." In my defense, I was always provoked! Those brothers taught me to be scrappy, to be strong, to stand up for myself. Looking back, I am not entirely sure how I survived them. But I did! And now I'm so grateful for all they've given me.