What Makes An Artist?

To define an artist first
One must define art
What is art? 
Is it a depiction of beauty?
An expression of perspective?
A representation of a view on life?
All of these things – and more – 
Art is the best of all that
Humanity has to offer.
It is how we redeem ourselves
For war and destruction.
Some use paint on canvas
Others needle and thread
For still more, it is the 
Written word they manipulate
to convey the meaning 
inside their heads.
Each of us has
an artist inside
and we all find our ways
of letting it out.
Through dance, poetry
cooking, singing, carving;
each of us has a deep 
expression of beauty within us.
To keep our sanity in
this brutal world of 
take and take
we must find our muse
and let it guide us
to whatever makes us 
more whole, more complete.
We must each of us
find the artist within,
for what is an artist
but simply
someone that allows 
their real self
to speak.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2010

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Drover Avatar
July 13, 2010 at 11:40 AM
Thanks for the comments! Just a response to CL, however I never said that an artist "stopped" a war, just that by showing humanity's beauty artist redeem humanity's ugly side. They are more a balance to the ugliness, as opposed to a way to end it. Also, I do believe that most artists work very hard to express themselves. Just because something is simple doesn't make it easy! I appreciate your comments and definitely agree that most art is appreciated far too late. Cheers!
Brown Avatar
July 13, 2010 at 7:04 AM
What a blessing we have in PoetrySoup. A place to come to write and read and make new friends along the ink trail. I am wishing you a day full of inspiration. I enjoyed reading your poetry today and hope to read many more written by you in the future T. L. Love, Carol
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