after the accolades

(no legacy is so rich as honesty – shakespeare)

 

after the accolades

why is the artist afraid

filled with fears

drenched with tears

wishing someone would hear

art is just an

expression of loneliness

 

none of us know

what we are talking about

none of us create

anything worth creating

we express

from the depths of loneliness

 

surround sound of audience

crowds, family, friends

will not end

the loneliness

 

don’t ask why

if we knew

we wouldn’t be artists

we would know our place

in the jigsaw puzzle

fit perfectly

for all to see

our piece in the picture

pleasing to the eye

 

yes we would compromise

all of our art

if you would just

put us in the shopping cart

as something you would want to buy

 

if you would just make us feel

like we were something you wanted

had to have

all of our art be damned

if you would accept

just as i am

 

cause hard as we try

we cannot be mom’s apple pie

cooling on the ledge

be your norman rockwell painting

so all is as it should be

and we fit the decree

free from the need

to write poetry

 

but the truth is you see

outside of poetry

every word is a lie

as i try to sunrise

on your perfect day

so we can say

i’m love and accepted

while the real me is projected

in poetry

that will never see

a reflection of the real me

in your look of love

 

***