The Garden of My Mind
Ntela
Precious Land by N,
Acrylic on A4 paper
In Lockdown I have painted, planted, and painted
In Lockdown I have painted
my way back to spring
In the garden of my mind
Flowers and fruit have blossomed
In the garden of my mind
I have survived
I have painted and painted
a soft, smooth, purple aubergine
a crunchy, orange carrot
a round, red, and tender tomato
full of seeds and sweet to the taste
a sweet sweetcorn
ripened yellow by the sun
In Lockdown I have painted, planted, and painted
In Lockdown I have painted
my way back to spring
In the garden of my mind
Flowers and fruit have blossomed
In the garden of my mind
I have survived
In Lockdown I have planted
Onions that sting my eyes
and make me cry
but still, I eat them
and still, I paint
The layers of an onion
are like life
I paint red chillies
They burn hot on my brush and on my tongue
In Lockdown I have painted, planted, and painted
In Lockdown I have painted
my way back to spring
In the garden of my mind
Flowers and fruit have grown
In the garden of my mind
I have survived
In Lockdown I have painted through the seasons
Flowers of the spring
Soft, sweet fruit of summer strawberries
Apples in the Autumn orchards
falling on a bed of leaves
Winter berries, bare branches
In Lockdown I have painted, planted, and painted
In Lockdown I have painted
my way back to spring
In the garden of my mind
Flowers and fruit have blossomed
In the garden of my mind
I have survived
Now I hear the birdsong calling me
Outside
In Lockdown I have painted
my way back to spring
In the garden of my mind
Flowers and fruit have blossomed
In the garden of my mind
I have survived
I have painted and painted
a soft, smooth, purple aubergine
a crunchy, orange carrot
a round, red, and tender tomato
full of seeds and sweet to the taste
a sweet sweetcorn
ripened yellow by the sun
In Lockdown I have painted, planted, and painted
In Lockdown I have painted
my way back to spring
In the garden of my mind
Flowers and fruit have blossomed
In the garden of my mind
I have survived
In Lockdown I have planted
Onions that sting my eyes
and make me cry
but still, I eat them
and still, I paint
The layers of an onion
are like life
I paint red chillies
They burn hot on my brush and on my tongue
In Lockdown I have painted, planted, and painted
In Lockdown I have painted
my way back to spring
In the garden of my mind
Flowers and fruit have grown
In the garden of my mind
I have survived
In Lockdown I have painted through the seasons
Flowers of the spring
Soft, sweet fruit of summer strawberries
Apples in the Autumn orchards
falling on a bed of leaves
Winter berries, bare branches
In Lockdown I have painted, planted, and painted
In Lockdown I have painted
my way back to spring
In the garden of my mind
Flowers and fruit have blossomed
In the garden of my mind
I have survived
Now I hear the birdsong calling me
Outside
Ntela was born in Angola and now lives in the UK with her family. Ntela loves writing, reading new things and also cooking. She enjoys connecting with people and making friends at the Islington Centre.
N has been a regular contributor of the Islington Art and Writing Class for many years. She studied art as an undergraduate and postgraduate both in her homeland and in Britain. Her paintings and sculptures have been exhibited widely.
N has been a regular contributor of the Islington Art and Writing Class for many years. She studied art as an undergraduate and postgraduate both in her homeland and in Britain. Her paintings and sculptures have been exhibited widely.
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