Quiet, Artist At Work
If this world were a picture, an uncoloured pencil sketch,
I’d remove it from its frame, and pencil and rubber fetch.
I’d erase all the bad things, and every mistake as well,
And duly make corrections, sketching happiness not ill.
I’d then fetch paint and brushes, and all sorts of colours try,
I’d brighten up the faces of everyone passing by.
I’d dab pink on every cheek, splash twinkles in every eye,
And the lives of each person continue to beautify.
I would rub out all the clouds, all the smog, and any pain,
I’d colour all the sea-shells so they didn’t look so plain.
I would put a yellow sun in the middle of the sky,
And the sky would be all blue — a blue that would catch the eye.
I would rub out all the weeds, and sketch in shrubs and flowers,
Which I would brightly colour, filling in more pleasant hours.
Then with my dazzling paint brush, deftly held within my grip,
I’d fill every empty life with loving companionship.
I’d erase each orphanage, sketch each child into a home,
I’d also sketch in dwellings for those homeless folk that roam.
I’d rub out every tear-drop, and just beaming smiles draw,
And sketch in lots of money, enough for all those who’re poor.
Any tree that dropped its leaves, I would erase from the scene,
And simply sketch another, colouring it evergreen.
And scary creepy crawlies I would soon erase as well,
And sketch in lots of others that one’s phobias would quell.
Yes, I would take a rubber, a pencil and brushes too,
And changes for the better would creatively pursue.
You’d see a brighter picture that coloured the world with love,
And in the right hand corner, I’d then sign off with a dove.
By Lance Landall
