Plant painting

An odyssey

I’m painting a plant.

I start with pencil

to map how her leaves have grown.

I start small but

grow bigger and bigger.

I’ve planned poorly.

I’ve ruined it.

I’ve taped on more paper.

There.

This plant used to be a branch

who fell off her Mama

and decided to become her own.

I start with purple, for some reason.

I’ve ruined it.

I add yellow.

I’ve definitely ruined it.

But I’m painting this plant

because the world feels sharp

and my mind needs to rest, today.

Once, I almost let the Mama plant die -

I was TOO tired to care.

But she refused.

So now I am here, painting this plant.

Look how you’ve grown!

I add blue.

A little better.

Magenta.

I’ve ruined it.

More blue -

there you are!

I painted a plant

to let my mind rest

and now she hangs on my wall.