A Canvas Floating in the Lake.

A Canvas Floating In The Lake!

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A canvas floating in the lake

face down its frame is shattered

an artist standing by the road

hitchhiking away, clothing spattered. 

Commissioned to paint a young girl

he captured all her beauty

with gesso, pigments and brush,

his skills beyond mere duty.

But early on the dawning of

his work of art's unveiling,

the little girl was found offshore

her blond hair round her trailing.

She had risen and quietly 

she slipped away 

on that early morn

to the childhood games 

she played down by the dock 

where she would make believe

that she was on a ship,

but then suddenly 

startled by a trout that leaped

up high to catch a fly

she fell into the water 

inhaled it and she died.

The artist found her first, 

it broke his heart, 

the pain exploded

he didn't have the 

strength to wake up 

and lead her folks to 

where she floated

and so he took that canvas

that was bright and full of life

He broke it across his knees 

and cut the image with his knife 

and tossed it into the lake

Then he turned and 

left with teary eyes

before the family rose

and painted nothing ever since

or so the story goes.

The canvas in 

the lake sank deep

beneath where she 

had drowned,

it still gazes up through 

sun drenched depths

but it never will be found.