GEORGIA O’KEEFFE
Gorgeously artistic mind she had, so
Each time she spied a view—it was new,
Opposed to what she had been taught.
Rigorously focused more finely than a camera,
Gloriously deft eye she had—so
Indisputably hers—that her strokes seemed
As if she had merely swallowed a petal, and
Out of her it reappeared for us all to see.
Knowledge of light and line were there, too,
Exhibited to the world (by her spouse).
Enviously, we saw how seeing as she saw
First, made us second to the fine eye and
Fine hand that ever steadily drew us into her
Ever finer, ever greater, artistic universe.
This acrostic poem has never been published before now. I wrote it in 2008. Okeeffe has long been one of my favorite artists. I have visited Taos, New Mexico, and seen her home and many of the buildings she painted--and vistas, and flowers, and plants. I admire her person as much as I admire her paintings, for she was as true to her person as her art. One of my favorite birthday gifts was a book of her paintings, given to me by Lee Ware, who understood my soul as much as anyone ever has. The book was titled Georgia O'Keeffe, A Studio Book and was published by Viking Press in 1976. I haven't been able to find it on the Web, so it is probably out of print.
Follow this link to buy prints of her paintings. Georgia Okeeffe
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