The Knee That Rises First

A woman

was sitting.

One leg

folded and laid to the side,

the other knee

raised.

Her head

was bowed.

I

drew the line.

From the neck

to the shoulder.

From the shoulder

to the back.

The line

went downward.

“You may

lower your knee.”

The woman

shook her head.

I

left only the line of the raised knee

and set down the brush.

The woman

put her hand on the raised knee.

Her body

leaned forward.

The folded leg

slowly unfolded.

She could not stand

in one movement.

She pressed

on the knee again.

Her feet took the floor

and her body rose.

“I have to sit like this

to get up quickly.”

I

turned my eyes to the painting.

The woman in the painting

was still sitting.

Her head

still bowed.

I

finished drawing

the line of the raised knee.