TCONTC SERIES PIECE ELEVEN

TCONTC SERIES PIECE ELEVEN
(To Colorize or not to Colorize)
“Though I may ask too Much“

Traditional drawing in pencil and ink
November 2013
© Merton Parrish
All rights reserved

NOTES ON THIS PARTICULAR PIECE:

This drawing is an illustration for one of my original poems.  I print it for you, below:

THOUGH I MAY ASK TOO MUCH
A new poem from Merton

I will let the poem speak for itself. All I will say is:  I am ready to be happy. (Or at least I am ready to be ready to be happy).  Lol.  Silly Merton.  

And, here are some rhythmic instructions for reading the piece:  

Begin the poem reading it with seven beats (or, to be more exact, seven beats followed by a rest).  The line is: two eighths quarter, two eighths, eighth, eighth, eighth, eighth, eighth, eighth, eighth, quarter rest.  After that, of course, the rhythm will vary, but it will continue on with eight beats per line and, often, a rest on the eighth beat. Then, with the line, "I no longer wish to crash on the shore," use a 4 beat (and some lines will need a pickup note or two, as these are called in music).  Again the rhythm will vary, but it will continue with this four beat per line till the end of the piece.  

I worked so hard on the rhythm, I thought I should give some helpful instructions!

Enjoy!
_____________________________

THOUGH I MAY ASK TOO MUCH

What I want, next time 'round, is someone who just "fits,"
like your hand when it slides in an old, worn baseball mitt.
I want our life, day by day, to similarly jive
I'd like for for us to be at home, like bees inside a hive.

This I now wish for, yes I do, after years of crash and burn.
For its always so much effort, and so little in return!
I know it's of the journey, we're blithely s'posed to sing,  
yet no rides into the sunset, as of yet, for this old thing.

Should life and love really be rounds of constant toil?
Must it be like pulling teeth, or boiling in hot oil-
always ending up with "I… no longer am 'in love' with you,"
and then back where we started, "I'm Merton; how are you?"

Yes, finally, I want this thing, unseemly as it seems
(although I shouldn't tell a soul, lest they chide me for my dreams)
I want a fit, a nat'ural groove, and not to try so hard,
I want for love to fin'lly less like swimming in a tub of lard!

Do I dare to seek soulmate, or attract my doppelganger?
Shall I search for my missing piece, 'stead of "No more wi-i-re hangers!"
Shall I look for that sought after one, who enjoys with me to sit,
and even, heaven may forfend, admires me… just a bit?

Would that be so terrible, God?  I think it sounds rather nice-
for things just to be effortless, like one, two and thrice?
Trite and wedding song-ish as it most assuredly sounds
To me it'd be copious joy, that knows no end or bounds!

Yet what do I do, as I look in myself, dear God and mysterious fates
with that old magnetic tug and pull, 'tween self and other pates,
'tween me and those with whom I surely shouldn't ever  be?
(And why is it God,  its them I find, so incredibly, well… sexy!?)

I'd like, I think, to put the whole conundrum well aside,
erotic and weirdly wondrous, as it is, like the tide)!
I no longer wish to be sucked in, chewed up and then spit out,
like a crashing wave, a tsunami roar, or an errant waterspout.

I no longer wish to crash on the shore,
spit o'er with a callous "I love you no more!"
No, I want a match!  Is it so much to ask?
Why fill my heart, if no one's for the task?

I am tired of trying so hard, don't You see,
only to end with him all done with me-
when I'd've kept trying, till Your kingdom come
(silly and loyal and doglike and dumb)!

I probably ask too much, wanting this,
this life, this love, this soulmate that fits.
But surely it doesn't hurt just to know
that I prayed for someone who'd make this "a go!"

I'll wish it upon this tiny, white star
each night, as Tinkerbell flits yon and far.
And even if it's just too much to ask
I, silly me, hope I'm up to the task.

I will wish it and dip into my penny jar
for tuppence and drive to the fountain my car.
And there near the water, I shall dredge up desire,
Saying, "Soul mate, I'm here, with love like a fire!"

"I've so much to give you, and we'll have such fun.
I just know that it's you who is the one
that I've waited for, and you've waited, too;
there's much to see, enjoy and to do."

"We'll be together, like in all those old books.
(Have I sat too long, tomes in hand in some nook?)
No, no, I think not, and soulmate you'll see,
that it's you I have looked for, and you've looked for me!"

"Somehow we didn't meet on holiday;
our angels tried hard, but were remiss on that day.
So since they were lazy, and did not do their jobs,
I stand now quite ready to toss in this bob."

"I'm hoping on hope, and rhyming, you see,
(for lately I use this verse that ain't free!)
I'm rolling along, and foll'wing my Muse;
this broadcast's for you, your love to pursue."

"Soulmate, please listen, and do not be shy.
(For it's me here that's calling, and I am your guy!)
So tune in your heart's little radio set,
and hear well my words, since we haven't quite met!"

And then I shall toss it, with final panache
And watch with attention, the tiny "plop, splash"
that carries 'long with it, one silly old dream
and knits well two hearts, golden thread, golden seam.

My last bit of hope, is at bottom of this pool,
with spectacles I'll view it, yes I'm an old fool-
And I shall be telling this all with a sigh…
Though I may ask too much… one last, college try!

-Merton Parrish
October 2012


NOTES ON THIS SERIES:

The TCONTC (To Colorize or not to Colorize) series grew out of the fact that I have about a dozen pencil drawings of various sizes, some large, some smaller, that are in various stages of my normal mixed media process (which is: pencil drawing, then inked, then colorized usually with Copic markers, colored and/or pastel pencils, possibly gold or silver leaf pen, etc.).  Some of these pieces are still in pencil format, others inked, others partially inked. Only one has been colorized so far.  

I keep coming up with new drawings and putting off (or being held back from by my Muse?) the colorizing.  Now knowing that none of us know when our number is up, when aliens might land, when the dollar and the whole world system might crash, when the new golden age might come, etc., etc., etc. (kinda wink, kinda serious here!), I thought:

“Well, maybe I just ought to post these.  Some look pretty good as pencil and/or ink drawings anyway.  Who knows for sure if I will get to finish them or not!”  And, having thought that, I wanted you, my friends and viewers to see what I have been up to artistically.  

I have been very busy lately performing and teaching music, putting together a new home ( mertonparrish.deviantart.com/g… ), developing a relationship with my new artist/musician hubby ( littlebuddhabc.deviantart.com ) ( mertonparrish.deviantart.com/g… ), working on schedule and finances, etc. About a year ago, this old art hermit was shoved back out into the world by God, my guardian angel, my higher self, my muse (?), the fickle hands of Fate… all or some of the above, who knows!  Consequently, I do not have as much time for art as I used to, though new hubby (who travels and performs with me and does art with me, too) and I try to accomplish as much artistically as we can.  

So, here are my latest pieces, perhaps to stay drawings, or perhaps to be colorized.  We will see… Hope you enjoy them in their current state!

Merton