The Hungry Artist

pen in hand –
held between thumb and index finger
swirling down the space between
two definite lines
sometimes over and sometimes under
chasing the phrase
that is not on the page
something like the opposite of hunger –

constipation – the need
to expel the hell that lingers
when pen pauses in hand –

this is how I’ll always remember her –
absolute resilience in the face
of having nothing
of significance
to say