Art School

For two hours Ruth tries
To render the watering can
Looking up only once
To ask me to rip the page

From the sketchbook

She says she's solved the problem
And now must begin again
With the old resting
Between the new and the still life

Her style which she rejects
Is that of many strokes shading
Moving around the object
Until it becomes itself

My friend's brother
When I showed him our work
Side by side said
Your grandma is drawing space

When she puts her pencil down
She looks up at me without satisfaction
It looks great grandma I love it
She rejects this too

I show her my version
Of the watering can
Did you go to art school? No
Are you sure? Yes

I gather up our tools
Is this it for me?
Am I never leaving?
I hate it here

I know you do grandma
I love getting to see you
I love you too
Her questions go unanswered

The best I can do
Is shade the truth and
Leave the objection alone