RENDERED HEART

by Richard Schnap

It was a black and white photo
Of a Dust Bowl family
Gathered in the garden
Of a small wood-frame house

She found it in a box
At a local thrift store
To be the next subject
Of her portraits of others

They were smiling as if
It was a holiday of some kind
A chance to forget
To get lost in celebration

And for the brief moments
She painted their happiness
She could almost believe
That she was happy too