when the roses speak

the latest local art exhibit is by oil painter nicole williford.  she combined her love for poetry with painting images of women in the community.  inspired by mary oliver's poem "when the roses speak, i pay attention" which i will type for you, she displayed portraits of five women she considers wise and beautiful, all posing with their eyes closed in prayer (how she says she has known and spent the most time with them). 

when the roses speak, i pay attention

"as long as we are able to be extravagant we will be
hugely and damply extravagant.  then we will drop foil
by foil to the ground.  this is our unalterable task, and we do it joyfully."

and they went on.  "listen, the heart-shackles are not,
as you think, death, illness, pain, unrequited hope, not
loneliness, but lassitude, rue, vainglory, fear, anxiety, selfishness."

their fragrance all the while rising from their blind bodies,
making me spin with joy.

--mary oliver

to learn more about nicole, you can visit her website at nicole williford.