Of Apples and Teeth -- w/respect 4 & apologies 2, Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)

How

Shall I paint thee?

With sun’s golden rays –

A brush dipped in haunting autumn leaves

And yellow-orange oceans

How shall I

Paint thee, thy angles,

Thy symmetry and curves?

I shall paint thee

In thy birthplace,

Airborne and heavy

In latticed, sculpted, drooping green branches

I shall paint thee,

Perfect and lovely,

God’s most graceful fruit

And then I shall paint thee

With my teeth,

In juicy, sharp-edged water colors,

As perfectly eaten,

Thy existence at pinnacle,

Thy purpose fulfilled.