i got over my
fear of our
interior walls.
it wasn’t so much
the walls that i feared,
but creating holes
in them.
i used to imagine
using that tiny hammer
with the blue handle
to pound a nail in,
a vitiated strike,
the plaster crumbling,
a hole created,
the lath exposed.
it happened once,
months after that fear disappeared.
and when it did
my shoulders sunk,
my eyes fixed on
the floor now white
with crumbled
plaster, the nail
i tried not to miss,
nowhere to be found.
sometimes i’m incapable of some of
the most basic things.
okay.
if i’m being honest,
it’s often.
now on the floor,
looking up at the hole,
i tried to figure out
how to fix it.
i could do what
i always do.
but that seemed
so artless.
soon, the
solution was obvious.
back on my feet,
the imperfection now imperceptible,
covered by a memory
now back on the floor,
my shoulder blades against
the wall,
my mind at ease,
i thought about the
formation of wallpaper.
and
eternal life.
(both are drawings, black ink on paper).
10 Comments
symbolic…encouraging…so well written!
I can’t help but find this entry comical. My husband hates when I want to hang things on the wall. And even more when I hang something and then want to move it.
When I look at pictures of the interior of your home, I ALWAYS wonder if you just pound a nail in the wall or use a drywall screw to hang every picture.
I love that I don’t have to wonder anymore!
Thanks:)
I sneeze for weeks when plaster crumbles.
I totally understand the fear.
Matt! I don’t work for them or anything, but this is the perfect product for you! 3M Picture Hangers! Check it out (and sorry bout the exclamation points!)
http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Command/home/us_en/products/picture_hangers/
I’ve discovered an easter egg!
You are an amazing writer.
I love reading your writing. I really am anticipating your book.
As much as I love reading about Maddy’s adventures, I just love finding these hidden gems. Your voice as a writer is so compelling–it really keeps improving. Bravo.
So… do we get a book of poetry next?
Two words. Mighty. Putty.
Another one. That is three in a day!
My house has holes all in the walls. My poor husband.
I love how you can take a simple thing like hanging something on the wall and turn it into an very deep moment.
You are such a talented writer.