November 2, 2011 November PAD Chapbook Challenge

Day 2: November Pad Chapbook Challenge, Poets Aside, Robert Brewer  The prompt was to begin with a quote.  I have chosen the quote by Henry James, a quote that I live by.

“We work in the dark, we do what we can, we give what we have. Our passion is our doubt, and our passion is our task. All of the rest is the madness of art.” –Henry James

The Work is our Life
Mr. James has it right
As an artist
First is to begin
We have no idea really

We work in the dark
We pick up the pencil
We draw
The brush
We paint
We chip the stone
There is no promise
Of the outcome

We do what we can
That is all we can do
The line goes this way
We follow

We give what we have
We work to the best of our ability
It is a piece we will sign
We will put our names on it
For all times
Today
And long after we cease to be

It is our doubt
That is our passion
We begin and end
With it

And all else is the madness of art
This is all consuming
There is no need of more