Preparations for the Eye is not a Camera

                          Day Before the Opening


Sheets cover a message from then and now;
Transparent bodies twist slowly, falling but never landing;
Secrets of the trees opened to be shared;
Texture and beauty from destruction and loss;
A ribcage from the sea - boat, whale or made?
Tic Toc, move stay, start stop, throw away.

 Lights off, sunset bright through the high windows.
Buckets, ladder, plastic sheeting, spackle dust.
Quiet voices planning, asking: More light here? How about this shadow?
Higher? Will there be enough wine? Will Peter go here?

This is our first show.
Is it good? Do we know?
Are the artist statements strong and clear?
Are we confident? Who’s it for?
Who will come? Will it hurt?

Dust sheets removed. Lights adjusted, buckets gone, spackle swept.
Silence as we look. We breathe.
This is good. This is us.
When they look tomorrow, we’ll be proud.

               Brenda