Mari Renwick, Blur Shadow-Warm/Cool, 2019 (Artist Website, Instagram)
Encaustic and oil stick on wood panels
10 x 20”
from this angle in the light
I can see each finger through
what’s left of the bar of soap
an hour earlier she threw
the honey into the cabinet so hard
the cans of soup fell over
then the bedroom door shut as loud
as a car hood closing I take off
my wedding ring that golden eclipse
I hold it up until it comes
into focus I am to blame
for my own sadness I am
the soap in my hand worn down
to an azure sliver a communion wafer
against my wet skin she won’t join
me in the shower we don’t
touch like we used to touch
which is all I want to touch
in the most holy way as a word
brought back into a closed mouth