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