Q: To be an artist one has to find beauty in ordinary things. Find 10 things of great beauty in the landscape that surrounds you.

A:
1. A room outlined with bookcases stacked, overflowing.

2. Dust motes orbiting in a ray of sunshine

3. the lingering fragrance of a sandlewood shower

4. the family framed, clustered on a table

5. his shoes in a line by the bed

6. a milky kaleidoscope in green jasmine tea

7. a sump pump digesting rain

8. the slow pulse of an antique clock

9. sun baked skin, toasted brown

10. Summer’s back-door creak and double-bounce slam

11. shadows touching a floral tablecloth