after seeing georgia o'keefe's, 'red canna' (1919)

When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it,
it's your world for that moment.
~Georgia O'Keeffe

georgia loved her red cannas-
she painted one in oils
as if she was holding it steady
with blue water running:
her world in a moment

our world whenever
we choose to gaze:
green mountains sloping
golden sky
surrounding

casaba petals
reaching to be
a conduit for yielding
to reddish brown earth
and the softest abiquiu sky

Kate Lamberg
3/29/12