Hammer Anvil Tongs

It’s a kaleidoscope hand, talented but flawed.

Belonging to he that was cast out

for being ugly.

Capable of making beautiful things,

in the fires of the forge.

Hated his parents for abandoning him.

On mother’s celebration day,

he gifted her a throne that he had made with this hand.

It was a trap that imprisoned her.

The price of her freedom?

Give him the most beautiful of goddesses as a bride.

He got his wish, but she would honor him.

Cheated on him with the handsome god of war.

Another indignity. Still, they were a family.

Four daughters in all:

One was a goddess of good reputation and glory.

Another a goddess of plenty and prosperous.

A third, a goddess of eloquence.

The youngest, a goddess of friendliness.

All beautiful like their mother.

He loved them, like any artist loves his children.

The Stone Collector

Portrait of and photo by Danielle Lynn

Ed, the Mathematician

While this is still fiction, it is also a kind of portrait.

Such a contemplative mannequin head. Just sitting in the back of Ed’s pickup.

Dreaming of God knows what.

A Confederacy of Questions

Trying something new.

I was thinking these could make interesting portraits, too.

This one is of my friend, Robert Michon.