Seeking Enlightenment, by Judith Lee Herbert

This painting is in the poet's home. Information and origin are unknown, but it was purchased from China over the Internet.

Seeking Enlightenment
                                           
Her gown golden, trimmed with brown embroidered brocade,
she stands and lights the amber lamp. Aglow with warmth, 
her delicate Chinese face and silk garments luminous,
sheer rich Mandarin red drapes billowing behind her,
she adorns the wall of my dining room.

I turn to look out the window.
Ice floes drift down the East River, 
uneven jagged frozen shapes afloat, 
formed by nature, movement and destiny.

I turn back to look at her countenance, 
moment of harmony and grace captured by oil paint.
There is fleeting solace in stillness.

Judith Lee Herbert

Judith Lee Herbert returned to poetry after a successful career in another field.  She is a graduate Cum Laude in English Literature from Columbia University.  Her poetry has been featured in print and online publications including the Bards Annual, the Long Island Quarterly and motheringinthemiddle.com. Her chapbook was chosen as a finalist in a competition at Blue Light Press. She enjoys reading her poetry and will continue to be featured at venues in New York City and Long Island.