The Canvas of My Heart

The first moment I saw you
the canvas of my heart stared with disbelief.
You sat upon the bricked fence
barefoot, with wind tossed hair,
lost to thoughts of unknown,
with eyes that spoke without words.
I watched unnoticed

from a distance hoping that you
would not find my gaze,
as I painted you into my mind.
To the place where I can touch you
with my finger tips, tracing the contours
of your lips that did not smile.
How I wanted to tip your chin,

bringing your blank stare
to shine with the colors
I imagined in my mind.
I watched the passersby
stroll past unnoticed,
how could they just pass
you by without seeing the beauty I saw.

Were they so blinded by life
that what was vibrant and rich,
seemed colorless, and flawed.
If only they saw your true colors,
as I saw; the shades of autumn
as leafs softly fall,
the brightness of summer

in the mist of a sweltering day,
the coolness of winter
as drifts sway or the colors
of spring with the birth of a new day.
I stood there amazed by the just of it all,
then realized as my mind captured

every slight movement you made,
I did not want to paint you after all.
I wanted more then your image
as a memory, I wanted to feel
the passion of your colors,
I wanted to imbed your essence
onto the canvas of my soul.

Copyright 2003 Tracey L. Hardie