Paper Cranes 8x8 on canvas
After dealing with our recent loss my aunt sent me a few poems and a little paper crane. It was beyond special, and it's amazing how powerful words can be when you're dealing with any kind of pain. I thought about including just a portion of it. But decided it was best left in its entirety. It inspired the above painting.
"One Thousand Cranes" by Michael Petit
What if, in answer to need or pain,
you were to fold one thousand paper cranes-
taking the rice-white sheets of paper
one by one in your fingers
following the now ancient pattern
once someone's new creation
folding together edges, corners,
points along a line or at the center
creating the slender body, long
neck and beak, the wings
believing with each motion
you moved closer to your wish, that passion
filling your heart, white
flock aloft across the blue sky
doubting, for that is human,
for the moment what you've begun
persevering despite doubt, divine
voyage toward paradise
finishing the last fold
not once but over and over
setting each sacred bird down lightly
beside the ones already flying
counting how many you have done,
how many more are yet to come
losing count but not that memory
your hands and your heart keep
going, going over, forward toward
the end that is no end-
what would you ask to happen
that had not happened before then,
when you were at long last finished and knew
your longing and journeying are never through?
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