On My Way to Children's Art Class, by Ann Floreen Niedringhaus

The Praying Jew, by Marc Chagall (France, b. Belarus) 1923.

On My Way to Children's Art Class

Heading again 
to disappointment — 
again my colours will be flat,
no life will leap from paper.

Suddenly stopped
not knowing why
I face a rabbi’s portrait.
Not much to see — black, 
stark black sinking away from 
white prayer shawl, aging beard,
warmer shadowed skin.  
No clear colour distracts.  
Angular, awkward hands 
lie in wait. 
From within — 
a phosphorescent glow.     
His eyes urge me on
send me on my way.
Somehow now 
I can continue on —       
     
     open your eyes,
     use what you see
         what you know, 
     bring forth only 
         what you are.

Ann Floreen Niedringhaus

Poems by Ann Floreen Niedringhaus, Saint Paul, MN, have appeared in numerous journals, such as Plainsong, Sojourners, The Coe Review, Rattle, Calyx, Albatross; and in anthologies such as, Country Doctor Revisited (Kent State University Press), Bound Together: Like the Grasses (Clover Valley Press, 2013).  Her two poetry chapbooks are: Life Suspended (Poetry Harbor, 2003) and Parallel to the Horizon  (Pudding House Publications, 2007). Bound Together, the second anthology of poems by Ann’s 20+ year long writing group, won the 2013 Northeastern MN Poetry Book Award while Ann was living in Duluth, MN, before her move to Saint Paul.  A retired Social Worker/Nurse, Ann volunteers as a writing coach for the Wilder Foundation Youth Leadership Initiative and offers occasional writing workshops.