You're lucky, on the whole

A few weeks ago, I devoted a week of posts to the art that I'll be hanging on the walls of my new apartment.  In my post titled tree stump phonographs, I told you about meeting Annie, a.k.a. Wexford Girl, at an art festival in my neighborhood and commissioning two pieces of art from her.  Last week, she came by my office to drop off the pieces, much to my delight since they were exactly what I wanted!  (Annie also uses TypePad for her blog, so I think she didn't mind the quick tour I was able to give her of TP HQ.)

Here are the finished paintings.  They're displayed next to the mirror in my bathroom, where I can look at them often:

  

** I took these photos with my cameraphone, which did not do justice to the colors and quality of work.

Part of what captured me about these paintings is the quote.  Annie couldn't remember exactly where it was from, so a quick Google search revealed the source.  I love poetry.  To me, a good poem can be as touching and transformative as a good song.  Just from the two lines in these paintings, I could have guessed I would love where they came from:

  "Poem About Morning"
  by William Meredith

  Whether it's sunny or not, it's sure
   To be enormously complex—
   Trees or streets outdoors, indoors whoever you share,
   And yourself, thirsty, hungry, washing,
   An attitude towards sex.
   No wonder half of you wants to stay
   With your head dark and wishing
   Rather than take it all on again:
   Weren't you duped yesterday?
   Things are not orderly here, no matter what they say.

  But the clock goes off, if you have a dog
   It wags, if you get up now you'll be less
   Late. Life is some kind of loathsome hag
   Who is forever threatening to turn beautiful.
   Now she gives you a quick toothpaste kiss
   And puts a glass of cold cranberry juice,
   Like a big fake garnet, in your hand.
   Cranberry juice! You're lucky, on the whole,
   But there is a great deal about it you don't understand.

• Purchase art from Wexford Girl through her Etsy shop or her online gallery.
• The art-filled house Annie fixed up with her husband was recently featured in Apartment Therapy.