painting a sitter on a chair.
She pauses for a short time
wondering what thoughts travel through
the middle-aged man's brain
forced into silence and no emotion.
She detects sadness in his eyes
or perhaps that's just her interpretation,
maybe joyous images caress his soul.
It's a lived-in face to be sure,
a man who has experienced much
and she longs to create a masterpiece.
He can daydream but she has work to do
hoping a decent painting will break through.