3/25/2026

The Travelers

Two pass by, unobserved by most.

Two bind together and travel on a soft blanket of silk.

The smallest forms on a river of nothingness.

Still with no movement, no rhythm and no design.

But something happens when they enter the blanket.

Forms of patterns start to appear. Ripples of a long lingering chain evolve.

Before there was nothing to show they were ever there. Now a pathway is left.

The blanket marks their journey and the light and shadows come to life.

We too pass by and on our journey leave a pattern, a mark and a story.

The smallest forms on an endless landscape.

We leave a design, a pattern of a life and nothing is ever the same.

10 Comments

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Rendered With Intent5d ago

I love the study in both mediums. A beautiful combination of words and image.

Len CicioHuman-Made Art5d ago

Thanks I appreciate your thoughts

Bill Richards6d ago

The way you describe two travelers bound together on a "soft blanket of silk" — creating ripples and patterns from stillness — really captures how connection transforms even the quietest moments into something lasting.

Len CicioHuman-Made Art6d ago

Thank you Bill. I looked on your site but I didn't see any art or photography. I hope you don't mind me asking but are you a consultant with ASF? Thanks for any insight. Best, Len

April Art StorefrontsStaff6d ago

The abstraction of the water creates such rhythm despite "no movement, no rhythm and no design." Beautiful pairing of image and words.

Len CicioHuman-Made Art6d ago

Thank you April. Steven Maranto , really had a good idea of combining words with the art to tell a story. It actually helps other people to connect with our art. I created a category on my website called "Poetry and Art" to do just that in communicating a little deeper about the story behind it.

Steven MarantoHuman-Made ArtMar 25, 2026

Love it.. but it took me a minute to see the swans.. lol..I was reading it and I keep thinking where are the two..??? but then I finally noticed the small swans.. very nice piece and poem.. just a question, did you just make this poem up recently... noticed the piece was from '13...you must have quite a bit of work completed, Len...how long have you been at this? Just curious, and is this your only thing now? I worked for many many years with our family business. an Italian bakery in Baltimore.. Four generations of hard damn work... Just have been able to paint last 5 years or so.. ..so I would say semi-retired.. still have to bring in a few duckets here and there.. "the poetry man"

Len CicioHuman-Made ArtMar 25, 2026

Hey Steve, I actually just wrote it when I posted the image. I got back into my fine art at 51 and just hit 69 this past February 17, 2026! So no spring chicken here! It's full time for me now. I have roommates who pay me rent (I own a 1 BR in Upper Manhattan) An Italian bakery would have wiped me out with chocolate biscotti and cannoli's! You inspired me to start a category of "Poetry & Art" on my website and start doing this for my pieces. Thanks!

Steven MarantoHuman-Made ArtMar 25, 2026

Yeah Len no problem. Should have emphasized "bread" only bakery. By the time I got there it was and still is fairly automated.. but always worked with a crew of people to bake in large rotating hearth ovens and throw large hunks of dough into machines..what a process...but left a while ago and the business is now in other hands.. But I am starting think I will need a website as well.. I have that in the back of my mind.. seems that's where it stays most of the time... and believe me you would not get fat eating bread and working in a hot bakery all day.. lol ...the heat was oppressive int the summer months..at some point it just becomes a battle of mind over matter.. Steve.. oh I am 57 so not that young either...

Len CicioHuman-Made Art6d ago

The good thing Steve about art, is as we get older we get better at masterimg our craft. i think Georgia O Keeffe was making art till like 96 or so. There is some time left for us still!

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