Wednesday, March 30, 2016

March 30, 2016 Poets United Midweek Motif/ Oh to be Ninety

Oh to be Ninety

oh to be ninety              still a ways to go                   mountains to climb

problems to solve         in most other professions      we would be retired

but to be an artist          at about ninety                       women artists might be recognized

before that time            we are invisible                      we are here

still unseen                    interesting to be told at 70      we are too young

still so at 80                   although some might be recognized in their 80's

men are often recognized at 20 –30 – 40                      i think for many

beyond that                    if they are not recognized       their careers are over

still... as women artists are waiting


in my 70's now              have been practicing                 for over 50 years

it is a funny business      this being an artist                   we go to the studio everyday

we practice our craft       alone                                        some days we wonder why

some days we know        i wonder if a young person knew these truths

they would choose to be an artist      if we had it to do over would we choose to be an artist

of course                         maybe we don't choose            perhaps art chooses us

March 30, 2016





8 comments:

Sherry Blue Sky said...

Yes, art chooses us. That is amazing to be still too young at 70. However, I note that YOU have been recognized already, so someone has noticed you are an amazing artist. Smiles. I like your lines about some days you wonder why you go to the studio every day and some days you know.

Susan said...

Sherry spoke my mind. I retired educational theatre and started writing three years ago, so in a way I've never tried to make it as an artist. You are good and brave! Art and you chose each other!

Old Egg said...

Once an artist always an artist. Often younger artists are not recognized because they do things differently but I thought that had changed. The essential thing is that your creative talent is not dulled but there is that urge to create to your dying day.

Arcadia Maria said...

You expressed the reality of being an artist in such a beautiful way.

Sumana Roy said...

aha...art chooses us...isn't it wonderful to be The Chosen?...beautiful poem Annell...

Sanaa Rizvi said...

Beautifully written...!

Jae Rose said...

I think the last sentence is certainly true - perhaps another difference between the majority of women and men is the desire for recognition - is art a vehicle to applaud yourself and earn money or to sit in your studio and quietly become more and more special everyday..

Carrie Van Horn said...

I agree Annell art chooses us....this is wonderful!!

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