The Choice

It's not unusual for an artist to be influenced by poetry. Poetry is truth exposed— eloquently and succinctly. Sometimes it seems like my personal truth, but as it turns out, my truth is universal.

This piece was inspired by the poet Wislawa Szymborska.

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/ 1996/szymborska-poetry.html

In the poem "COULD HAVE",

http://www.english.upenn.edu/~traister/szymborska.html

Szymborska writes about destiny/fate/chance/luck and, most fortunately, reprieve. I read this poem many times and eventually realized that I didn't really have The Choice to decide my fate after my mother's death at a young age. "As a result", "because", "although" and "despite" played the larger role.

The "Chest" of drawers is a metaphor for my mother's chest (and heart). Once upon a time, there seemed no separation between hers and mine.

The four drawers state my truths:

As a result of circumstances at the time

Because I had to go on

Although it wasn't what I wanted, and

Despite all evidence to the contrary

I chose. Or did I?