THE DRAWING

I drew a number of buildings. I put in every window, every shutter, every balcony. I put flowers where they were and people behind the glass, and details of the pillars and the statuary. Try to talk, I said to myself. A Madonna and Child was painted on one of the walls. I put that in. Put in the dove descending. Put a wafer in her beak. Put in the Hammer and Sickle. Put in the aerials and the ghosts among them raising their arms. Put in the muscles of the clouds. What colour are your eyes? Sometimes hazel, sometimes green. Put in Patricia’s eyes. Put the Lord of Indecision in one of the alleys. Put the Lord of Failure there. Put the Idols of Desire beside the fountain. Then come back and talk to me, where your comfort is, where your refuge is.