It doesn't matter what you have to say,
Your words aren't words the World will want to hear.
I thought that I'd already made it clear,
"It's only art if you can make it pay."
You know that you can show a better way
But nobody will listen when you do.
Relax! You know the fault is not in you,
It's only art if you can make it pay.
But paint a shed and call it "On Display",
Persuade a fool to spend a heap of cash,
It's genius and not a heap of trash!
It's only art if you can make it pay.
It doesn't matter what you have to say,
It's only art if you can't make it pay.
Author notes
Your prompt is a verse taken from the poem 'The Ghost' By Australian poet Henry Lawson.
:`Flowing founts of inspiration leave their sources parched and dry,
Scalding tears of indignation sear the hearts that beat too high;
Chilly waters thrown upon it drown the fire that's in the bard;
And the banter of the critic hurts his heart till it grows hard.
At the fame your muse may offer let your lip in scorn be curled,
`Self and Pelf', my friend, remember, that's the motto of the world. "
For the full poem Click Here
In a list
A contest entry
- Contest #410 - Prompt by AliceinPoetryLand.
2200 points, ended October 24, 3 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me honestly what you think, good or bad.
Comments
1 - 10 of 10
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Congrats! I guess I haven't produced any art, as I am flat broke!
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Wonderful! I love where this part of Henry's poem took you and I think you hit the nail on the head. Excelletn thought a response. Thanks so much for your entry
Gaylene
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Henry Lawson - cracking poet.
The tip of a philosophical iceberg here. People forget how relatively young the idea of "ars gratia artis" is, and how art (beyond primitive times) has always been a statement of priorities, and the priorities have been at the dictates of the patrons. The artists of each era could easily have been taught, say, perspective, if there had been someone to teach them; but when the Emperor of Byzantium told them to paint him presenting the Haghia Sophia in both hands to God, that is what they painted.
The best poet you and I know on AP has only had one poem published, and that for no payment. Her ars is decidedly gratia artis.
Bunnies.
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Actually art for art's sake is very very very old while the man in charge of painting bison on the cave walls to ensure a good hunt was working ritually his son was doodling in the dirt
But "Art" has always been for "money", and patrons have always been at least as important as artists.
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Actually I said "beyond primitive times".
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we still live in primitive times
And my argument about the wall painter would apply all the way through history, doodles and doggerel are the real art of the people. -
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I hear you, Banksy.
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Awesome Job here love
as always you take the prompt
and RUN----------> with it
Good luck in the contest
Love you
Tory
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Ha ha how true - leave a pile of dust and call it the essence of life it would sell for millions! -
Just a little mistake there - you said here instead of hear.
T
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Thank-you, fixed.
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