Wednesday, June 10, 2020

The Best Among All the Rest


When I painted and finished my piece,

I always told myself, this one is good,

I like just fine, but the next one could

likely be my best.


I continued to paint always telling myself,

I see the promise in this one, but surely the

next will be finer, maybe even the best one,

museum quality, you know.


They all turned out satisfyingly well, you

see, for I would paint over the ones which

I considered to be unsatisfactory. Sold and

gave away the works which survived my

scrutiny.


Oh, although I had my favorites, none of

my paintings ever achieved the status of

A number 1.


Well as it turned out, later I was unable

to paint anymore. Couldn’t hold the brush

with my arthritic and shaky hands. So,

either my best had already happened

or was never meant to come.


Now at age 73, I write poetry mostly. Have

been plying that creative bent off and on

for some forty years. Have produced perhaps

several thousand verses over time. Still, the

old idea is with me and my psyche--The

next one will be the best one or has the best

already been done?


Hard or impossible for me to say. A lot of

words and turns of phrase among so many.

Hell, I can’t remember what I had for lunch

yesterday.


With my passing, my works will be handed

down to my grandchildren. It will be left for

them to decide. I’m sure each one will

choose their favorite, those among them,

that is, who could give a healthy shit about

poetry anyway.


                         -30-

Chris Hanch 6-10-2020









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