Courage

"Lion", Louis Lassalle,
18X24, Oil


Not to fight
Not to always be right
To sometimes cry
Never to oblige

Not to shout
Not to expose
To think how you're maybe being too cold

To sometimes be silent.

To apologize
To lose some pride
To be content…
She is your damn bride

Being a man.
Not being you.

Masked Love

"Slave of love & light of my eyes";
Etienne Dinet, Oil, 1904


“Love is an angel, disguised as lust” – not exactly.

Serving the flesh, releasing the men at sea
Holy unity, for years, you will lack.
Aroma, persona, hourglass, and face
What’s left is intellect to seal the chase.

Bring your spirit, true it must be
Lay it down and steer it to her.
Expose your fears, share the laughs
Still, you are nothing but a walking staff.

Confess your love, digress not, and make it clear
Spill your spirit, smile, and pass it through her eyes.
Wait you must, for a sacred trust has been broken.
Staunch is all you’ll ever be, same words never to be spoken.

Pain is predictable, but self pity --neglect
Lust will forever simmer, momentarily you seem to forget.
Holy unity, one thinks, you still lack
Better now than tomorrow, trust in that.