Anderson & Krasner – November 2025

Barbara Krasner and Chelsey A. Anderson traded art and words. Chelsey shared this image, titled “Ghost,” with Barbara:

In response, Barbara wrote this poem:

Talisman

My ancestors look for an opening,
a quiet meadow, a glen, a misty scrim
through which they can poke 
their spectral fingers, tickle me 
with reeds, make me trip 
over unstable terrain. 

If I squint, I can almost see them,
figures fluid between azure, blush, and amber.
Some shrink themselves to truffles
so rare, but I can sniff them out.
If only I could capture them 
in that amber, seal it tight,
keep them with me forever.

* * * * *

Barbara shared this poem with Chelsey:

Epistle to the Persistence of Ruin

Dear abandoned building with rotting clapboards,
            boarded and broken windows. What were you
            originally? Was your faded pink once colonial red?
            Dear turkey vultures sitting on chimney cap, what
            do you protect or are you there to feast on wooden carcass?

Dear abandoned farmhouse cum inn with heritage sign circa 1734,
            Did you ever imagine you’d be boarded up, laying fallow
            after British merrymaking caused severe damages
            never recouped? Did you ever believe the heyday
            of canal traffic would dry up your land and your business?

Dear abandoned homestead, you once stood as the shining glory
            of a wartime family with your white clapboards 
            and picket fence. Now you hide behind forest foliage,
            afraid to reclaim your identity, afraid to stand up
            and shout your existence, afraid to remove caution tape.

A time comes in this second century of world war
when old maps shred. Willing tear ducts have dried up, 
desert tongues have shriveled. We shell time
and store it into nuts for later.

In response, Chelsey made this painting, titled “Ruin & Reclamation”: