Even Prompter

A Short History of the Failed Artist

A Short History of the Failed Artist

“How about law?” he asks, all smiles,
”Good grief no,” I answer without a thought.
“Then what about roads, you could go miles?”
“No chance of that, I’ll take the courts.”

Which is how I began my seven years in law,
deceased estates, insolvencies and company liquidations,
armed only with a ballpoint pen clamped in my claw,
and recycled paper to record my ministrations.

This happenstance led me to discover
the creative possibilities of my supplies,
Bic and paper combining hand in glover
to find a style of complete surprise.

Soft yet coarse, the paper sang,
gently caressed by faithful pen,
complications contained by drawing hand
in shaded line and visual zen.

In complexity the drawings grew
from year to year as my skill increased,
until the day it became quite screwed,
I dared not go on - in case it ceased.

I left the law and its art supplies,
changed countries, jobs and circumstance,
turning back to writing seemed so wise,
still pen and paper the tools of chance.


Line count: 24
Rhymed abab
For Promptly Poetry Challenge, Week 37 2023
Prompt: Your poem should be inspired and include these words: pen, paper.