The Artistic Touch

Brushes and pencils and pens and ink,
Canvas and paper and such
Are the tools of the artist, his "stock-in-trade",
Along with the artistic touch.

To be an artist is to view the world
In a way that few others do;
Artists see things that others miss,
And bring them into view.

An artist's touch is not in the hand
But is rather found in the mind,
For an artist can draw with mouth, hand or foot,
And can "see" with eyes that are blind.

An artist can hear sounds that are not yet made,
Play music that has never been heard,
And convey to others what he or she wants to "say"
Without ever speaking a word.

An artist can take us back in time
And show us things long past,
Or interpret the present, the world of our day,
Pose questions that beg to be asked.

An artist can bring stories in books to life,
Cause things unseen to be seen,
Create creatures and visions of fantastic things
On paper or canvas or screen.

An artist can show us what the camera cannot,
For a camera must needs have been there
To record the event or the scene at the time,
And it has no insights to share.

a. franklin staples

Autumn, 1993-June 20, 1994
Copyright © 1994 by a. franklin staples