The Artist & The Tyrant

Image by Shepherd Fairley

(Style Inspired by Melvin Tolson's The Furlough)

The artist carves creation into surreal ideas which scream 

words that reshape the landscape of time 

into the horizons of tomorrow of which children dream;

for there remains a world to be made and redefined.

Words that reshape the landscape of time

cause sleepers to awaken who have not seen light;

for there remains a world to be made and redefined

which the artist pursues to bring about when they write.

Cause sleepers to awaken who have not seen light

is not what tyrants desire to come to pass

which the artist pursues to bring about when they write

so that truth and justice are given twin birth at last.

Is not what tyrants desire to come to pass

the extinction of words which challenges their grip

so that truth and justice are given twin birth at last

to the class alone from which his cup of gall does sip?

The extinction of words which challenges their grip

the artist cares not to contribute to the demise.

To the class alone from which his cup of gall does sip

the words spoken by the artist are weapons to tyrants eyes.

The artist cares not to contribute to the demise

to the worlds of wonder which words create.

The words spoken by the artist are weapons to tyrants eyes

destined to bring about the tyrants cursed fate.

To the worlds of wonder which words create

the artist toasts and longs to forever dwell with pen and pad;

destined to bring about the tyrants cursed fate

the life of a poet is not that of a fad.

The artists toasts and longs to forever dwell with pen and pad

like a mystic who transcends both time and space;

the life of a poet is not that of a fad,

creating alternative thoughts of existence with form and grace.

Like a mystic who transcends both time and space

is the mind that sees beyond the surface scene.

Creating alternative thoughts of existence with form and grace,

the artist carves creation into surreal ideas which scream.