Illustration for "It’s not the “Painting,” it’s the painting."

It’s not the “Painting,” it’s the painting.

Ellie Hastings

© 2011

What the fuck is a Pollock?

It’s when the night sky is

red and promising,

though only a darkened day

steps forth.

That moment when you choke

on the ‘X’ in flux.

When caution never fades from trust

or doubt strangles worth.

It is the seconds before a storm,

or after a storm.

It is the storm.

It’s when poetry comes

dancing with the wind

or burns up in the fire,

or in yourself.

It’s when hard falls come

from high climbs seeing victory.

When Tomorrow brands itself

with all your flaws

and spits them back as faults.

It’s when eyes look into shadows

and shadows look for growth.

It’s when sunlight comes

through the window

and reveals dust as gold.

It’s when breathing joins relief

or bitterness steals it harshly.

But what the fuck is a Pollock?