In elementary school I was handed a blank canvas,
some brushes and paint.
Our teacher said, “paint something you learned”
I decided to paint a Navajo dwelling
somewhere in the desert untouched by written history.

In one hand I held a palette
blending the colors of a night sky.
A memory sparked and inspiration ignited
what flowed through my heart
flowed from my brush.

Brilliant reds and oranges cut across the landscape
to create a horizon of infinite possibility.
And from the shadows of the foothills a desert emerged.
From the desert floor my brush pushed towards the sky
a hogan of earthly browns creating a place of warmth and security.
From the chimney grayish-white smoke rose into the evening
garnishing the sky like a fond memory.

Next to the hogan I painted a corral
that contained three horses nodding in the night.
They dreamed of running free across the desert
breathlessly charging the infinite sky
leaving a thunderous echo that awakens the spirits
of those that drift away on subtle winds.

Little specks of lightning white
formed the stars above the corral.
Each star, a child that dared to dream.
Each star, a child that played freely upon the canvas.
Their childhood shall never be forgotten
by those wishing upon a star.

I painted a tortoise that freely roamed the desert floor
Its colors so faded by time it blended into the scenery.
Barely recognizable against the foothills of the desert
the tortoise walked slower than the setting sun.
I asked the tortoise what he would do to complete this painting
Paint a mouth on me and I will tell you, he replied.
I painted a smile that reflected my own.

To the side of the canvas, I envisioned the long shadows of night
creating the silhouette of a cactus
and next to that cactus a desert fox
tip-toeing across the foothills, seeking mischief and foolery;
mindful not to leave footprints in the sands of time.

And as the desert fox played with the night
I pictured a crow landing on the edge of the chimney
a temporary home to watch the concluding light
and protect those dreaming away the night.

Image: Banksy Mural. Title: The Street is in Play. New York City October 1st 2013.