Gallery Poem by Christine K. Trease

The gangrene amputation hangs on the wall
we wasted our living and the passersby
standing in front of the gallery windows
look through nicotine streaked glass at the exhibit of life
the Malibu colored sunset brushing in
behind them, urges and they obey the oil
paint strokes and heed to the night-
bypassing the crayon drawings of an
unpolluted future and the charcoal
scribbles of refined desire

The easel of life hangs in a balance of
nicotine smoke and Schnapps, its edges
artistic and undefined
computerized images cannot prevail-only the
pastel colour of the pencil drawings hold
the future in a balance of nicotine haze
and Peppermint Schnapps