Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ARTISTS, by ALICE STETTINER



Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ARTISTS, by                    
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.





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