Self-Portrait

Self-Portrait, 2011 v. Ortiz Vazquez 4’9” or 5’0”, never quite knowing which Brown eyes, black Afro hair She Hercules strength within 34 years old wondering where times has gone A second, minute, hour; days, weeks, months Young morena, carded at times Few gray hairs basilan between wisdom and just time passed Time spend recording images, words Hidden ideas within pages Pieces behind doors, question of “Am I an artist when no one except me sees my humble images?” Energy transfer in a moment of passion where soul, thoughts merge Written words waltz between lines wondering “Am I a poet when no one except my girl listens to the movement within my writings?” Quote-on-quote educated yet ignorant School smart, whatever that means Socially dysfunctional, quietly listens to the cacophony-story telling time Not my story but hers, his, theirs Commonalities, none Fearful she hides behind her home’s walls Pages hide her thoughts Agony bleeds every time she wakes Capture by her moving hand yet stored away Aching, waiting to break through She turns and walks Sanctuary, solitary times Lingering questions, who am I? How to survive without knowing Knowledge eludes me To find a different host Jealous, envy; no, lost Floating through time, space Looking to land yet not knowing where Falling back to old tricks Seclusion Time to put thyself asleep Lights out