He stares at the metallic, water-
Color mandala on rice paper framed
And hanging over the mantel. He
Begins at the center and works his
Way around the red, brown, beige
White and blue around and around
And around to the outer edges and
Back again to the center, like a
Walk through a prayer labyrinth.
There he sits, taken back through
The center to a backyard and a
Little, tow-headed girl sitting
Silently under a large oak tree
Concentrating on the watercolors
At her disposal as she meticulously
Brush strokes the paint on the
Artist’s paper resting on her lap.