Negative Space

My first-grade teacher distributed paper and crayons, said, "Art time."

Once I left negative space.

She said, "You must color the whole page."

Why? I wondered.  Even then I knew what wasn't there was as important as what is.

Think Hokusai,

think scherenschnitte,

think the neighbor's hydrangea.

Doesn't the absence of a loved one shape us as much as his or her presence?


Color my world here and not here.