Billy Starts a New Painting

For Jim Carroll

the steam
emanating from the cup
of lemon ginger
green tea
dances to Voices
as Billy starts a
new work

Inspiration
mounting
Helen whispers in
Billy's left ear
a word so pure
 so sweet
that no color
no stroke of the brush
could imitate
a moment as
nice as
this

Billy stands up
opens the blinds
and watches the
blue
of the sky
cradle the
exposed trees
he almost sees
one or
two of them
shiver
as if their nudity
suddenly made
them shy

Billy turns his
stare
back onto his
work
with the last
rays of
sun
performing
yoga on his
hardwood floor