How to Paint an Icon

If there is only one eye, ignore the other.
Remove dogs from the upper portions,
they exist only in lower zones, licking the sores
on a beggar or the feet of a returned prodigal.

Depict new rain whenever it arrives over the hills.
No sunlight. Everything is sunlight.

Country eggs in tempera to depict warriors.
City eggs to glisten the serene pale
faces of women in court,
or the imprisoned. Or a saint.