My earliest recollection of father
was at four years old
sitting for hours
doing his paint-by-numbers
when finally finished
both of us flabbergasted
at the quality of his art

One day he bought a model airplane
for me
called a Spitfire
different from the ones he worked on
at the base
in awe at how
like his paint-by-numbers
put it together
step by step
piece by piece

As time went by
I got more models
which he continued to build
until one day he told me in a firm voice
to build them for myself
which I did
and although off and on
became a life-long thing

As a teenager
I did some paint-by-numbers too
to try and bond better with him
though the airplane models
remained my main hobby
over the decades
I built several for dad
like the ones he worked on
in his air force days
and it would always please me
that it would please him

Then finally arrived the time
I had to decide
models or poetry
air brush or pen
no longer having the
energy or hours
eye sight for both

As for the paint-by-numbers
that started it all
though the artist is long gone
his work now hangs
in my upstairs hall





Poem and photos © 2019

610 hits as of January 2024

07/26/2019

Author's Note: Paintings by Vincent A. Sorrenti, Trenton, Ontario, 1961.

Posted on 07/26/2019
Copyright © 2024 Chris Sorrenti