Radiance, by Mary Jo Balistreri

Poppy, American, by Georgia O'Keeffe (USA) 1927.

Radiance

Spilled from her heart she dips the brush
and paints a big red overflowing radiance
Powered from her jewel-like centre
she spreads a lush and layered spirit
petals the canvas in circles spiraling 
spiraling outward 
Encoded in the milky juice of mystery 
she is the dark center of poppy
her harvest of seed throbbing splitting
creating this scarlet portrait
this outrages living this opulent past

Mary Jo Balistreri

Mary Jo has three full length books of poetry and one chapbook. She was a musician most of her life but due to the death of a grandchild and a consequent loss of her hearing, she turned to poetry. Mary Jo has always been interested in art and received her BA in art from the U. of Pennsylvania. Please visit her at maryjobalistreripoet.com. She lives in Wisconsin.