US Postal Service Georgia O'Keeffe Poppy Stamp First Day of Issue, 5/23/96,
Santa Fe, New Mexico
O'Keeffe Poppy Stamp First Day of Issue
O'Keeffe,
Your river
Your door
Your trees
Your bones
Your sky
Your rocks
Your ladder
Your birds
Your flowers
Your leaves
Your mountains
Your cliffs
Your canyons
Your clouds
Your antlers
Your colors
Your brushes
Your light
Your eyes;
Your breath
is gone.
what remains
the shapes
you saw
the wind
now 156 million
stamps of your
red poppy painting
on letters
carrying on
the commerce
and news of
our time-
You told me
your 26-foot
painting began
with 2-inch sketch
and so did most of
your paintings.
Now on corner
of envelopes
open red poppy
lovely grace,
life, breath,
open fertility, yes
yes yes yes
through the
medium of the
machinery at
the post office
nothing
can cancel the gift
of such beauty.
May, 1996
© 1996 All Rights Reserved by:
Carol S. Merrill
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