magnolia

magnolia acrylic on paper 12"x18"

i am surrounded by blossoms - cherry, forsythia, daffodil, crocus, rhododendron and magnolia. i can't stop looking. everything is busy bursting with new life. but i can't help but think of death. a neighbor's beautiful, young son has been killed in afghanistan. in my neighborhood yellow ribbons are tied to the flowering trees. death mocks the hopeful innocence of candy pink and yellow buds. if this were my son, i would want it to stop. but i'm the lucky observer. i can feel the hopefulness of rebirth as well as the pain of loss. at a distance, it is bearable.

rest in peace, eric ward.