My Silent Sketch

With paintbrush in hand
I am what you see.
Silently I try
to find the true me.

My simple painting
is what I hold dear.
But beneath the paint...
that is what I fear.

I fear you won't like
what's hidden inside,
so under the paint
is where I shall hide.

There are many things
that you may not know.
Somehow the paint cracks,
and things start to show.

And if you still like
the picture behind,
you are a true friend -
you're one of a kind.

But please understand
my sketch is still there.
I'm scared to be left
entirely bare.

So silently I sketch
the pure painting you see.
I don't want to fool you,
I just want to find me.

1998