Art

Told my artist friend

that he paints because he must paint

the muse demands it.

There isn’t money or fame but it’s who

he is, he has no choice. And even though

I’m in a similar position

with my poetry I feel worse for him

because he’s dedicated

his entire life to living

the poor artist’s life hoping some reward

would come after all that deprivation.

Whereas I’ve never had any illusions,

managed a conventional middle-class life

so what you see is what you get.

Michael Estabrook is a published poet residing in Massachusetts. His work is widely published in Fresh! Literary Magazine and various literary magazines.