collage in altered book

she felt familiar, like we've met 

or I painted her before. 

i was going to alter her 

then realized 

she needed to stay 

as is. 

the new year is approaching.

as is the tradition of the japanese,

i am cleaning and clearing.  since reading

the life changing art of tidying, i have ask myself

whether an object sparks joy, 

a powerful question than can

have reverberations throughout one's life.

if it does not, i let it go, grateful for the place

it had in my life.