I enjoy most of the archive poems from the Paris Review which arrive in the inbox. I save many of them in my folder ‘Inspiration’.

The poem Imaginary Paintings, by Lisel Mueller (Fall 1992, # 124) is in seven numbered sections. Seven is always a good number. The length of sections varies, from one line (Love) to 10 (Big Lie).

1 How I would Paint the Future

A strip of horizon and figure,
seen from the back, forever approaching.

2 How I would Paint Happiness
3 How I would Paint Death
4 How I would Paint Love
5 How I would Paint the Leap of Faith
6 How I would Paint the Big Lie
7 How I would Paint Nostalgia

I liked the start of the Big Lie painting:

Smooth, and deceptively small
so that it can be swallowed
like something we take for a cold.

Here is my attempt at How I would Paint Patience:

A small mat, wool, handwoven.
Mostly pale grey, with the odd
black nubbly bits at the corners.

Writing prompt: If you’re looking for a subject for your imaginary paintings, you could always take one of the seven cardinal sins (pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, sloth) or one of the capital virtues that overcome them (humility, generosity, chastity, brotherly love, temperance, meekness, diligence). There is also prudence, fortitude, justice. Or take anything abstract, such as stubbornness, peace.