Painting

I have the perfect painting in my hand

With all the right strokes, from all the correct angles

The figures are beautifully made

And the shades are just right

The paints mix in the ideal way

And it’s neither too dark nor too bright,

I love it when I look at it

I miss it when I look away,

My perfect painting

Then you come along

You show me how one stroke is wrong

And how I missed an angle by 5 degrees

That figure has a hand too big, and that nose doesn't look too real

How a pink would have been better than red there

And how it’s a little lighter than it should be

And I know you are right

It is not perfect

But I would have loved you more

If you would have just let it be.