Art in Medicine Project from 2004 - Eating Disorders - "Shadows and Dust"

Shadows and Dust
“I don’t think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains.”
- Anne Frank


Beautiful Smile.
Radiant Person.
Enlightened Soul.

Her essence permeates my being –
She later reveals –
Recovering from an eating disorder.
So often missed –
Had she not told me,
I would never have known.

I see three faces –
Each a shadow –
Remnants.
I see the face she shows the world –
Bright,
Glowing,
Flushed.
I see the face she hides –
Binging,
Purging,
Starving.
I see the face that appears when confronted –
Angry,
Stubborn –
“I’m fine.”

–Surprise–
A face unseen –
Masked by brilliance.
Sad,
Lonely,
Hurt.
Wishing –
For love,
For support,
For happiness.

My Prayer –
Let someone focus past the shadows –
Secretly shy,
Silently sad,
ashamed.
Help her Heal.

May it be –
Calm after the storm.
Renewed Faith –
Rebirth –
Pink Perfect Joy.

Beautiful Smile.
Radiant Person.
Enlightened Soul.

By Nicholas Wong
Class of 2006