We can’t return, we can only look,
behind from where we came,
and go round and round and round
in the circle game.
-“The Circle Game”, lyrics by Joni Mitchell
I wanted to paint a portrait of you,
but I went ‘round and ‘round in a circle game;
the part in your hair,
the curve of your nose,
I spent hours painting your eyes.
The Russian dancer Nijinsky once said,
I like to look in the mirror up close;
close up, it’s as if there is only one eye.
I will build a stage, round like the eye
and upon that stage
I will dance, he said.
I wanted to paint a portrait of you;
I looked behind from where I came.
Your mouth, your nose,
your fingers and toes;
you built the stage I dance upon
and now when I look in the mirror up close
I see the portrait I wanted to paint.