Emily Jacko
My First Portrait
I dip my paintbrush to each strand
Of your hair. The canvas has imprisoned your
Curls. Then your eyes drip,
all things blue in the world
from my bristles. A hint of white to coral I mix,
and call this one your lips. My muse, I sweep
your jawline and take advantage of
newfound colors. I admire you, dry in sunset
gloss. I used to let you linger
on my palette,
now look what we have become.
You, a portrait above my bed and
I call myself an artist. When someone asks
Who is this? I say
I don’t know but, isn’t she beautiful?
About the writer:
Emily Jacko is an MFA student at Chatham University. She writes about human ideals that are found throughout nature. She also uses extended metaphor in much of her work.
Image: The Butterfly Effect Trio by Conor Mccreedy (1987-). Pigment, oil paint, olive oil and turpentine on Belgian linen. 200 x 200 cm. 2019. By free license.
