The Artist that Came Before You (Poem)

 

The Artist that Came Before You

If you close your eyes tight, you can envision him.

The god-like creator that lived decades before you.

Who stood where you are standing.

You wonder about the artist that came before you,

What their lives were like,

when they stood in front of that painting.

Was there a glass of red wine in his hand?

Was there an impatient lover in his bed?

Were his eyes closed?

What did he see?

What did he want to see?

An unearthed masterpiece hiding underneath a blank canvas.

When you open your eyes again, it faces you.

With colors as bright and vivid as the day of the first brush stroke.

A preserved soul,

for an audience he will never meet,

for artists who will uphold his legacy.

You stand where he once stood and wonder what came before you.

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A poem from poetry class, long time ago. When I was writing this, I thought about Hemingway sitting at a typewriter in Key West and Van Gogh painting Starry Night. It’s the greats from past generations that inspire me and my work.

Take some time to think about the artist behind the masterpieces. Think about what went into creating the work that has impacted your life. What did that moment of brilliance look like?  As writers, as artists, we are apart of a legacy, of all the greats that came before us.

Lovelies,

Write with Heart,

Lady Jabberwocky.