look at me closely
after you see my whole, my entirety
after you walk into the room and see all of me
look at me closely
you might find a little detail that surprises you
one you did not expect to find
a freckle
a stretch mark
some other flaw which shows I am a real human being
you will find it all if you
look at me closely
I have spent many years becoming ready for this moment
the one where you look closely
there she is, Vulnerability, always accompanied by Trust
Those two can’t go anywhere without each other,
I’m starting to think they are a real partnership
When you look at me closely
can you see all the work that went into my form?
The hours and days and weeks and years which I spent crafting these edges?
Every now and then I had to start over
because that crack
that damn crack
But you’re here
now
and I suppose there’re no better time than the present
for you to look
closely
Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri
December 2017
Kelly Green Guilbeau 