Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ARTISTS, by ALICE STETTINER First Line: Whether he perfectly paints a madonna's face Last Line: Is an artist of distinction and class. Subject(s): Art & Artists | ||||||||
Whether he perfectly paints a MADONNA'S face On his homely canvas of cloth; Or with fine threads weaves filmy lace, Sheer as the wings of a moth; Or grows choice fruits, or flowers rare, Universally acknowledged the best; Or of EFFICIENCY can claim full share, Or accurately solve any test; If he can drape a length of satin To catch the fastidious eye; If HE'S proficient in GREEK or LATIN Or ACE of the heroes who fly; If he ably appeases a GOURMAND'S demands By tickling a palate exacting; Or moulds his clay in a way that outstands, Or is STAR of the stage while he's acting; If he discovers the pole in an unknown land, Or engineers a bridge in construction; A MAGICIAN who baffles in sleight of hand, Or inventor of a process by suction; A WEBSTER or ROOSEVELT, MARCONI or REVERE, COLUMBUS, CARUSO, CHAPLIN or BOOTH, EDISON, CHOPIN, SOUSA, SHAKESPEARE, CURIE, FRANKLIN, PERSHING or RUTH, Or anyone who ably masters his calling, In a way no one can surpass, Who scales his ladder to the top without falling Is an ARTIST of distinction and class. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE OLD AND THE NEW MASTERS by RANDALL JARRELL TO A YOUNG ARTIST by ROBINSON JEFFERS BOATS IN A FOG by ROBINSON JEFFERS ART VS. TRADE by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON THE POET VISITS THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS by MARY OLIVER |
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