Hammer and chisel. Fire, then crack. Bend but not break, not quite. Fingerprinted then brushed smooth. Flames lick the edges to draw in tighter for the mold. Rough corners scraped to sharpen; protecting the whole from the other. Curves polished to catch the sunlight or moonlight or glimmers from the closest lamppost. Intentional gaps saved between the pieces. Another will fill the spaces. That is not the work of this day. This day is for burning metal bright and demanding its beauty.

What does it take to create something beautiful? Spectators do not see all the work that goes into a piece of art; they simply appreciate the results and maybe complement the artist’s skill. The piece of metal, clay, canvas, or fabric has been manipulated into something worthy. The audience does not consider the cost for the creation. Why would they be concerned about objects?

What about a beautiful person? What is the cost of that beauty, and who paid the price: the creator or the creation? Who deserves the credit: the creator or the creation? With fabric, make-up, or medicine, a person can change so much, but only so much. If someone changes everything, has a new artist taken control?

What is beauty? Who has the authority to decide its worth or its cost?

#52sparks is my year-long writing series based on an art prompt challenge.  The title is inspired by a quote from Star Wars: The Last Jedi: “We are the spark, that will light the fire that’ll burn the First Order down” (Poe Dameron).  The spark that lights a fire to toast a marshmallow or to ravage a forest begins in the space of an inch.  So just imagine what hundreds of inches and words can do.