This is book of poetry and art by Patrick J. Leach. It is a delightful mix of poetry and art by the author. A representative poem follows here: WHO WILL CARRY THE WORLD? One Brush oil paint on burlap tightly woven Crisscross patterns with large wooden Stretcher bars Let it dry under sunlight, starlight, Moonlight, go out there tonight Listen closely to your heart beating, A symphony with blood and air and life Rushing in Think of crickets and fireflies Hopelessly trapped here on earth, joyous Creatures Light the candles on the table outside Apply new paint with brushes and pallet knives, Mix in the tear drops as you paint with shadows Drawn in from candles and moonlight hearing The lonely distant trains sounding out as they Pass through Now it is time to tell God what is on Your mind knowing the paint dries slowly And God is patient, especially with you What will you say And will it all be true? Two The stars blink once or twice every night They are busy now, making light The neighbors try to sleep The dogs and cats up late Wondering who will be left when They leave Who will count the waves at the sea? Who will ponder riddles and walk the maze? Who will carry the world on its back? Make light of darkness and fill outer space? Frivolity cannot perform the calculations Nor supercomputers with highest speed internet Connections What is needed is undiminished joy offered Up in spite of every problem encountered Outstretched hands dipping water out of the river, Expecting nothing Listening to crickets, watching fireflies Allowing the world to carry itself Wherever it wants to go
About the Author: Patrick Leach is an American artist and writer living in Oregon. Here is a peek into my creative process: Painting is my passion, my goal, my shared spiritual joy, my connection with my innermost feelings and the outside world. I suppose all artists would say art is our passion, or why would we put up with long hours, rejections, and people who just "don't understand." I often work at my small business during the day doing landscape maintenance, then stay up into the wee hours painting. And the first thing I do in the morning is go into the studio and see if the work is any good. What do I like about painting on stretched pieces of canvas? The process (usually), the not knowing what will happen until it happens: the colors and color combinations, the lines and secret line combinations that emerge, the intersections of creative expression and human feelings, the tears of joy that occasionally fall onto the wet paint. The result is a no pretense product that anyone can look at and decide themselves if it is of any value or significance to them personally. I cherish the feelings that happen when I listen to music and paint- the way time flies getting lost in the painting. I love the immediate results, and also the hopes and dreams that someday perhaps my art will be valued and sought after. That maybe people in the future will value what I create. I know that my spiritual connection, God as I understand God, is responsible for anything good that I do, as I have not pursued formal art education. I just ask God for help and do it. But I have always loved going to art museums, libraries, and art galleries and I appreciate what is available, even when I do not like what I see. I love being an artist and hope you enjoy the art I am inspired to create. Combining art and poetry in books like Blue gives me great joy.